Gareth Bale signs £300,000 A WEEK six-year deal with Real Madrid
The mega deal could also see Bale become one of the world’s richest players as he will be flooded with offers for endorsements
EMPICS
Things finally got very Real for Gareth Bale today after he became
the most expensive footballer in the world by signing a golden deal
worth £176million.
Spanish giants Real Madrid agreed to the wallet-busting £86.3million transfer fee, which sees the 24-year-old ace wave goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur.
And the Welsh wonder will personally net £90million over the next six years – which works out at an eye-watering £300,000 per week.
The historic deal, which had been percolating all summer, could see Bale become one of the world’s richest players as sponsorship deals flood in for the midfielder.
He still has a way to go to catch Lionel Messi who, at 26, is the world’s best-paid footballer pocketing £27.4million last year from wages, bonuses, sponsorships and endorsements.
Bale’s new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, secured £24million in the same year, while unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 27, was the Premier League’s top earner with £17million.
Former Southampton star Bale is expected to be paraded at Real’s 85,000-seater stadium, the Bernabeu, around noon tomorrow – before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm.
In a statement on the Spurs website, Bale said: “I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it’s the right time to say goodbye.
"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, players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing 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.
“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.”
Bale, who grew up in the Cardiff suburb of Whitchurch, had
been living in a £1.3million detached house in Chigwell, Essex, near
Spurs’ old training ground.
He has a baby girl, Alba Violet, with his long-term sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones, who he met at school.
Spurs confirmed the world-record transfer today with a tweet – not long after they lost the North London derby against bitter rivals Arsenal, 1-0.
Chairman Daniel Levy said of the club’s top goal scorer last season: “Gareth 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 2013/14 season.
“We have therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and we do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad.
“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 here.”
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas added: “Gareth has left us with some great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes.
“But he has moved on and we will move on as well.”
Spanish giants Real Madrid agreed to the wallet-busting £86.3million transfer fee, which sees the 24-year-old ace wave goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur.
And the Welsh wonder will personally net £90million over the next six years – which works out at an eye-watering £300,000 per week.
The historic deal, which had been percolating all summer, could see Bale become one of the world’s richest players as sponsorship deals flood in for the midfielder.
He still has a way to go to catch Lionel Messi who, at 26, is the world’s best-paid footballer pocketing £27.4million last year from wages, bonuses, sponsorships and endorsements.
Bale’s new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, secured £24million in the same year, while unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 27, was the Premier League’s top earner with £17million.
Former Southampton star Bale is expected to be paraded at Real’s 85,000-seater stadium, the Bernabeu, around noon tomorrow – before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm.
In a statement on the Spurs website, Bale said: “I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it’s the right time to say goodbye.
"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, players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing 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.
“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.”
He has a baby girl, Alba Violet, with his long-term sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones, who he met at school.
Spurs confirmed the world-record transfer today with a tweet – not long after they lost the North London derby against bitter rivals Arsenal, 1-0.
Chairman Daniel Levy said of the club’s top goal scorer last season: “Gareth 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 2013/14 season.
“We have therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and we do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad.
“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 here.”
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas added: “Gareth has left us with some great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes.
“But he has moved on and we will move on as well.”
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