Gareth Bale: On This Day in 2013, Real Madrid Paid a World Record Fee of €100million to Sign Welsh Star

• Real Madrid confirmed the world-record signing of Gareth Bale from English Premier League club Tottenham on this day in 2013
• The Wales international spent nine years with the Spanish giants winning the UEFA Champions League on five occasions
• Bale ended his 9-year relationship with Real Madrid this summer after he joined Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC

Gareth Bale is regarded as the greatest Welsh player of all time and on this day, September 1, 2013, the former Real Madrid star etched his name in history for Los Blancos.

Bale arrived Santiago Bernabeu from Tottenham for a world-record fee of €100 million in 2013 to make him the world’s most expensive player.

The former Tottenham winger eclipsed the previous record held by then-teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Real Madrid had bought for €94 million from Manchester United.

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According to the Independent, the Spanish giants ended almost two months of speculation and negotiation by securing the Wales international’s services in a six-year deal.

Bale thanked Tottenham for making his move to Madrid happen, and he admitted that he could not turn down the chance of playing for the 14-time European champions.

“I have had six very happy years at Tottenham, but it is the right time to say goodbye,”

“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.”

Bale was assigned the number 11 shirt at Real Madrid and spent 9 seasons with Los Blancos, winning several trophies, including the UEFA Champions League, Copa Del Rey and La Liga titles.

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Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid achievements

Meanwhile, Gareth Bale is regarded as one of the most successful Real Madrid players of all time after winning 16 major trophies with the Spanish giants.

According to Wikipedia, the 33-year-old won 5 UEFA Champions League titles during his 9-year spell with Real Madrid, scoring a spectacular overhead kick against Liverpool in the 2018 final against Liverpool.

Bale also won 3 Spanish La Liga titles, 1 Spanish Super Cup, 3 UEFA Super Cup, and 3 FIFA World Cup titles during his time with the Spanish champions.

Gareth Bale reunites with ex-Real Madrid teammates

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Gareth Bale reconnected with his former Real Madrid teammates in Los Angeles just weeks after bidding farewell to the Spanish champions in June.

The 33-year-old moved to the Major League Soccer last month after penning a deal with Los Angeles Football club after falling out of favour with the Real Madrid hierarchy.

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Bale has now stormed the Real Madrid preseason camp in the USA, greeting and embracing the Madrid players during a training session.