Gareth Bale finally signs for Real Madrid
The winger finally signs for Real Madrid for a record 100m euros after one of the longest transfer sagas in years.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas finally confirmed the sale on Sunday afternoon. The transfer fee of 100m euros (about £85m) makes Bale the most expensive player in football history.
The Spurs boss called Bale “a wonderful player”, adding: he is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best.
“He has left us with great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes. He has moved on and we have moved on as well.”
Real Madrid announced the transfer on its website, calling Bale “one of the best players in the world” and praising his ability “to score from almost any position”.
Madrid told the Reuters news agency Bale has signed a six-year deal, subject to a medical.
Bale scored 29 goals for spurs last season and became only the third player to be voted senior and young Player of the Year at the PFA Awards.
He also won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award for the first time.
Reports of a record-breaking offer from Madrid first surfaced in July but it took months of negotiations to pull off the deal of the year. The transfer window closes on Monday.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti now has an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
The La Liga club also boasts Luka Modric, Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria in attack, as well as new signing Isco and former World Player of the Year Kaka.