For months it's been no secret that Real Madrid and Gareth Bale were destined to be together, it was just a matter of how much the Spanish club would have to pay to get the winger from Wales; Real Madrid will be paying Tottenham a reported 100 million euro to obtain the 24-year-old, according to ESPN.
The deal for Bale will be the largest in history, which seems to be commonplace for deals made by Real Madrid. The previous two record holders, Cristiano Ronaldo's 93 million euro deal and KaKa's 65 million euro deal, were both made by Real Madrid. The Spanish football giant brings in a remarkable 500 million euro a year making them one of the only teams that could afford to spend that much money on a single player's transfer fee, according to Sports Illustrated.
In his six years at Tottenham Bale became a superstar, scoring 21 goals in 34 Premier League games last season, but one can only reach a certain level of stardom at the London club so he seemed intent on moving on to another club.
"I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye," Bale said in a statement. "We've had some special times together over the years and I've loved every minute of it.
"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," Bale continued. "I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I honestly can say, this is my dream come true. I am well aware that I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have."
Tottenham never fully committed to wanting to move Bale, at least not publicly. According to a statement by the club's chairman it was a combination of Bale's desire to play for Real Madrid and the immense amount of money on the table that made Tottenham OK the transfer, according to ESPN.
"Gareth was a player we had absolutely no intention of selling as we look to build for the future," Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said. "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 season."
