Bale seals Real Madrid deal
Gareth Bale's prolonged transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid was finally completed yesterday after the Spanish club officially confirmed the move for an undisclosed fee.
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"Real Madrid and Tottenham have reached an agreement for the transfer of Gareth Bale," confirmed a statement on the club's website.
"The player will be tied to the club for the next six seasons."
Widespread reports have suggested that the move will make Bale the world's most expensive player and Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said last week he expected his club to receive a world record fee for the player.
However, Madrid sports daily AS claimed on Friday that Real will pay 91 million euros ($121 million, £78 million), three million less than Los Blancos paid for Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2009.
Bale will be presented to the media and the club's fans today afternoon after undergoing a medical.
The Welshman was coveted by the Spanish giants following a series of amazing performances for Tottenham last season that landed him both the Premier League players and football writers' player of the year.
Bale scored 21 goals in 33 Premier League appearances, but his efforts still weren't enough to lift Spurs into the Champions League as they were edged out of fourth place by just one point by North London rivals Arsenal.
And the chance to not only play with some of the best players in the world, but also in Europe's premier club competition was a significant factor as the 24-year-old made his desire to move to Madrid clear.
Bale was criticised by Spurs' boss Andre Villas-Boas last Wednesday after he refused to attend training last week in a bid to force the move through.
Source: Reuters