Gareth Bale joins Madrid for record fee

Real Madrid have finally completed the long-
protracted signing of Gareth Bale after paying
Tottenham a world record fee -- believed to be €100
million -- for his services.
Bale, 24, had been a target for Madrid all summer
and Los Blancos eventually managed to convince
Spurs to sell after agreeing a fee that, if confirmed
by Madrid, beats the previous record of £80 million
they set when buying Cristiano Ronaldo from
Manchester United in 2009.
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• Did Real pay too much for Bale?
He has signed a six-year deal with Madrid and will
be presented to the media at a press conference
scheduled for 1300 CET on Monday.
With Ronaldo and Bale now in tandem at the
Bernabeu, Madrid boast two of the most exciting
talents in world football as they look to regain the
Primera Division title from Barcelona and lift La
Decima -- their tenth European Cup.
"I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but
it's the right time to say goodbye," Bale said in a
statement to Tottenham's official website. "We've
had some special times together over the years and
I've loved every minute of it.
"I would like to thank everyone at the Club, the
Chairman, Board, staff, coaches and players -- and
most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will
understand this amazing career opportunity.
"I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a
club where I felt settled and was playing the best
football of my career to date. I know many players
talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood
dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream
come true.
"I am well aware that I would not be at the level I
am today were it not for firstly Southampton and
then Spurs standing by me during some of the
tougher times and affording me the environment
and support they have.
"Tottenham will always be in my heart and I'm sure
that this season will be a successful one for them. I
am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter
in my life, playing football for Real Madrid."
After establishing himself as the fulcrum of the
Tottenham team in recent years, the Wales winger
had become one of the most coveted players in the
game.
Bale’s impressive displays for Spurs earned him PFA
Footballer of the Year awards in 2011 and 2013, with
his final season at White Hart Lane yielding 21 goals
in 34 Premier League games.
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas stated throughout
the summer that it was his intention to keep Bale at
the club, but with the player's heart set on a switch
to Madrid, the Portuguese turned his attention to
strengthening his squad.
Spurs signed Nacer Chadli, Paulinho and Roberto
Soldado over the summer, while Erik Lamela has
also joined from Roma and Christian Erkisen from
Ajax this week.
Bale becomes Madrid's fifth summer signing,
following Asier Illarramendi, Isco, Daniel Carvajal
and Casemiro in moving to the Bernabeu.
He is the first British player to sign for Los Blancos
since Jonathan Woodgate nine years ago and the
first ever Welshman to play for the club.
Tottenhm boss Andre Villas-Boas pre-empted Real's
announcement, saying: "The player is a wonderful
player -- he is going to join Real Madrid," he said.
"He leaves us with great memories from last
season, and we wish him all the best."
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy told the club's official
website: "Gareth was a player we had absolutely no
intention of selling as we look to build for the future.
He is a player whose career we have fostered and
developed and he was only a year into his new four
year contract.
"Such has been the attention from Real Madrid and
so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we
have taken the view that the player will not be
sufficiently committed to our campaign in the
current season.
"We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed
to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have
an exceptionally strong squad to which we have
added no fewer than seven top internationals. More
importantly, we have an immense team spirit and a
dressing room that is hungry for success.
"We wish Gareth all the best in the future and he
shall always be welcome at the Lane."