Spurs Transfer News: Gareth Bale Signs For Real Madrid For £85 Million

by Joseph Dempsey

BBC. The move makes the 24-year-old the world's costliest player and dwarfs the £80 million Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Bale's transfer to the Spanish giants brings to an end one of this summer's more protracted of transfer sagas and the midfielder's six-season stay at White Hart Lane, where he scored 42 Premier League goals in 146 appearances since 2007. The deal for the Welshman was agreed just a day before the closure of the English transfer window, which slams shut at 23:00 BST on Monday night. Bale will now link up with ex-Spurs teammate Luka Modric at the Bernabeu and will also play alongside Ronaldo in La Liga this season. "I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye," said the double PFA Player of the Year.

"We've had some special times together and I've loved every minute of it."
The Wales international had been linked with a switch to the Spanish capital for the last three months and missed virtually all of Tottenham's pre-season campaign, as well as the Londoner's first three league games. The former Southampton star will have a medical and then be presented to the Madrid fans at the Bernabeu at 12:00 BST on Monday before speaking at a media conference. Bale added:
"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. "Tottenham will always be in my heart and I'm sure 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 his side's 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas remarked:
"Bale is a wonderful player. He is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best. "He left us with some great memories from last season."

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Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.