Real Madrid have broken the
world transfer record to sign
Tottenham forward Gareth Bale.
The Wales international has
agreed a six-year contract after
sealing an £85.3m (100m euros)
move which eclipses the £80m
which Real paid Manchester
United for Cristiano Ronaldo in
2009.
Bale, 24, joined Spurs as a left-
back for £10m from
Southampton in 2007 and
scored 26 goals last season.
He was named both the PFA and
Football Writers' player of the
year.
Bale's camp told Spurs at the
end of July that he wanted to
speak to the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid coach Carlo
Ancelotti's claim at the start of
August that they were "in talks
to find a solution" to the transfer
angered Tottenham manager
Andre Villas-Boas, but the clubs
have now reached a settlement.
After his side's 1-0 loss to
Arsenal, Villas-Boas said "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."