Ironskullll
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2010
- 1,378
- 1,894
Ha well he got that one wrong then eh!
Bale Media Watch - post the latest Media stories here
- Thread starter Dharmabum
- Start date
Ha well he got that one wrong then eh!
guiltyparty
Well-Known Member
- Sep 21, 2005
- 9,023
- 13,524
He's never right, from what I can tell. I always fail to see why he's held up as such an ITK. A good analyser of football? Sure, but he never calls anything correctly
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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Willian situation has changed things IMHO
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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Mirror - Kenny Dalglish : Bale can thrive at Real Madrid
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kenny-dalglish-gareth-bale-spurs-2213953
Gareth Bale is a special player. He is a player who can get you a goal out of nothing.
He is a player who can win you a match with startling pieces of skill and invention.
He has pace and strength and the ability to go past opponents on the outside or inside.
And he has become a master with the dead ball.
For a rival team, he is very, very difficult to deal with.
It seems to be accepted that the record-breaking deal for him to join Real Madrid will still go through, despite the dramas over Willian’s on-off move to White Hart Lane.
I’m not quite sure how Carlo Ancelotti will accommodate Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in the same team.
In fact, I would love to be privy to the conversation when Real get their first free-kick after Bale’s move and he and Ronaldo both move in to take it.
Despite that, I don’t see the football side of things being a problem for Bale in Spain.
He will be with other fine players and has the ability to thrive in La Liga.
He’s not quite in the same category as Lionel Messi or Ronaldo yet, but he will win matches for his new club in different ways.
And as for it being a record transfer, well, he’s worth what Real are willing to pay for him.
The bigger issue for Bale will probably be settling in to life in Spain because he seems like a down-to-earth lad whose roots in Wales are important to him.
Real will make every effort to help him with his life off the pitch and, if his partner moves out there with him, it will be a weight off Bale’s mind if she settles in well.
Whatever happens with Willian, Tottenham also deserve credit for putting the money they will get from any Bale deal straight back into the team.
It’s a smart move from the point of view of the Spurs supporters, who will be disappointed about losing their best player.
But it is also a smart move as far as the team and their prospects of getting into the top four in the Premier League is concerned.
Spurs can’t replace Bale with one player but they have already added three or four quality signings to their squad.
They have Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue and Roberto Soldado, and there is talk of Erik Lamela and Fabio Coentrao arriving, too.
Losing Bale would be a blow to any side, but that level of recruitment will put Spurs in with a good chance of improving on last season and getting into the top four.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kenny-dalglish-gareth-bale-spurs-2213953
Gareth Bale is a special player. He is a player who can get you a goal out of nothing.
He is a player who can win you a match with startling pieces of skill and invention.
He has pace and strength and the ability to go past opponents on the outside or inside.
And he has become a master with the dead ball.
For a rival team, he is very, very difficult to deal with.
It seems to be accepted that the record-breaking deal for him to join Real Madrid will still go through, despite the dramas over Willian’s on-off move to White Hart Lane.
I’m not quite sure how Carlo Ancelotti will accommodate Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in the same team.
In fact, I would love to be privy to the conversation when Real get their first free-kick after Bale’s move and he and Ronaldo both move in to take it.
Despite that, I don’t see the football side of things being a problem for Bale in Spain.
He will be with other fine players and has the ability to thrive in La Liga.
He’s not quite in the same category as Lionel Messi or Ronaldo yet, but he will win matches for his new club in different ways.
And as for it being a record transfer, well, he’s worth what Real are willing to pay for him.
The bigger issue for Bale will probably be settling in to life in Spain because he seems like a down-to-earth lad whose roots in Wales are important to him.
Real will make every effort to help him with his life off the pitch and, if his partner moves out there with him, it will be a weight off Bale’s mind if she settles in well.
Whatever happens with Willian, Tottenham also deserve credit for putting the money they will get from any Bale deal straight back into the team.
It’s a smart move from the point of view of the Spurs supporters, who will be disappointed about losing their best player.
But it is also a smart move as far as the team and their prospects of getting into the top four in the Premier League is concerned.
Spurs can’t replace Bale with one player but they have already added three or four quality signings to their squad.
They have Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue and Roberto Soldado, and there is talk of Erik Lamela and Fabio Coentrao arriving, too.
Losing Bale would be a blow to any side, but that level of recruitment will put Spurs in with a good chance of improving on last season and getting into the top four.
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
- 29,408
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Mirror - Ruud Gullitt : Bale fee astonishing
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gareth-bale-fee-astonishing-says-2216468
Ruud Gullit believes it’s crazy that Real Madrid are paying a world-record £86million fee for Gareth Bale.
The Dutch superstar does not dismiss the young Wales star’s talent.
But the lack of medals in Bale’s trophy cabinet is a source of concern to the man, who, in his playing pomp, was twice voted the best footballer in the world.
Gullit said: “Bale is going to take the transfer record past the €100million barrier, as soon as Real pay that amount into Tottenham Hotspur’s bank account.
"I find this astonishing. This is a player who has not won a single thing in his career, yet he’s becoming the most expensive player in football history.
“The pressure on Bale will be enormous because of the amount of his transfer fee and because it is Real Madrid. This transfer tells you everything about the incredible ambitions of Real Madrid.
“They are doing this with Bale because they are still annoyed that Brazil star Neymar was stolen from them at the last minute by arch-rivals Barcelona.’’
Gullit believes Bale, 24, is an emerging player, who has been playing for an emerging club.
He sees the Welshman as a player of genuine talent, but when he reviews his own career – and the men who have been the world-record buys since 2000 – he sees a huge gap between Bale and the rest.
Luis Figo’s controversial switch from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 set the world record at £37m. Barca fans were outraged by the deal and their former hero’s disloyalty at leaving for the club they despise.
But Figo’s track record was impeccable. At Barca, he’d won La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey twice, as well as the European Cup Winners Cup.
Within a year, Zinedine Zidane overtook him as the world’s most expensive footballer – at £46m – as the Galacticos took shape.
The France superstar, who had won the World Cup in 1998 and European Championship in 2000, was acknowledged as the ultimate midfield creative force. He left Juventus for Madrid after winning two Serie A titles and a World Club Cup.
Bale would replace Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's most expensive footballer
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real for £80m. The year before, he was voted the FIFA World Player of the Year. At Old Trafford, he helped trophy hoarders United win the Champions League, three Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and the World Club Cup.
That’s the elite group of players Bale is now joining.
Like Northern Ireland’s George Best, during the Sixties, the fact is that Bale’s status as a proud Welshman prevents him enjoying the kind of international success enjoyed by players such as Zidane and, to a lesser extent, Portugal stars Figo and Ronaldo.
But Gullit believes he was a serial winner because he had mental strength.
He recalls how Carlo Ancelotti, his AC Milan room-mate, was fuming on the morning of a massive Milan-Real Madrid clash.
Gullit said: “Carlo was screaming, ‘I was up all night and you slept like a baby! How is it possible?’
Milan left the Bernabeu with a 1-1 draw before hammering Real 5-0 in the second leg.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gareth-bale-fee-astonishing-says-2216468
Ruud Gullit believes it’s crazy that Real Madrid are paying a world-record £86million fee for Gareth Bale.
The Dutch superstar does not dismiss the young Wales star’s talent.
But the lack of medals in Bale’s trophy cabinet is a source of concern to the man, who, in his playing pomp, was twice voted the best footballer in the world.
Gullit said: “Bale is going to take the transfer record past the €100million barrier, as soon as Real pay that amount into Tottenham Hotspur’s bank account.
"I find this astonishing. This is a player who has not won a single thing in his career, yet he’s becoming the most expensive player in football history.
“The pressure on Bale will be enormous because of the amount of his transfer fee and because it is Real Madrid. This transfer tells you everything about the incredible ambitions of Real Madrid.
“They are doing this with Bale because they are still annoyed that Brazil star Neymar was stolen from them at the last minute by arch-rivals Barcelona.’’
Gullit believes Bale, 24, is an emerging player, who has been playing for an emerging club.
He sees the Welshman as a player of genuine talent, but when he reviews his own career – and the men who have been the world-record buys since 2000 – he sees a huge gap between Bale and the rest.
Luis Figo’s controversial switch from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 set the world record at £37m. Barca fans were outraged by the deal and their former hero’s disloyalty at leaving for the club they despise.
But Figo’s track record was impeccable. At Barca, he’d won La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey twice, as well as the European Cup Winners Cup.
Within a year, Zinedine Zidane overtook him as the world’s most expensive footballer – at £46m – as the Galacticos took shape.
The France superstar, who had won the World Cup in 1998 and European Championship in 2000, was acknowledged as the ultimate midfield creative force. He left Juventus for Madrid after winning two Serie A titles and a World Club Cup.
Bale would replace Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's most expensive footballer
In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real for £80m. The year before, he was voted the FIFA World Player of the Year. At Old Trafford, he helped trophy hoarders United win the Champions League, three Premier League titles, two League Cups, the FA Cup and the World Club Cup.
That’s the elite group of players Bale is now joining.
Like Northern Ireland’s George Best, during the Sixties, the fact is that Bale’s status as a proud Welshman prevents him enjoying the kind of international success enjoyed by players such as Zidane and, to a lesser extent, Portugal stars Figo and Ronaldo.
But Gullit believes he was a serial winner because he had mental strength.
He recalls how Carlo Ancelotti, his AC Milan room-mate, was fuming on the morning of a massive Milan-Real Madrid clash.
Gullit said: “Carlo was screaming, ‘I was up all night and you slept like a baby! How is it possible?’
Milan left the Bernabeu with a 1-1 draw before hammering Real 5-0 in the second leg.
Ironskullll
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2010
- 1,378
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tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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Mirror - Zidane will mentor Bale at Madrid
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/zinedine-zidane-offers-mentor-gareth-2218360
Zinedine Zidane has offered to mentor Gareth Bale at Real Madrid to ensure he copes with the pressures which come with being the world’s most expensive footballer, writes The Sunday People.
Bale’s £86.3million switch will be confirmed early this week with Tuesday or Wednesday earmarked by Real bigwigs for his unveiling at the Bernabeu.
And Real sporting director Zidane, who was himself a world-record signing when he joined Madrid for £45.6m in 2001, said: “I know what it is to be the most expensive player in the world and I can hopefully offer him advice and mentor him.
“There’s always a lot of attention with a big transfer fee. As a player you don’t
even think about the fee, but there is a hysteria that comes with it.”
Zidane added: “The biggest football story of this summer has been Gareth Bale and when you join a club like Real Madrid the focus becomes even more intense.
“My door at Real Madrid will always be open for Gareth and during his first season he will need to use it. He was in the top three players in Europe last season, but he can reach even higher levels.
“He will get even better. We are looking at a guy who can be the best player in the world for the next four or five years.”
Real have agreed to pay Tottenham 50 per cent of the fee now with three further
annual instalments starting from next summer.
Bale is set to sign a six-year contract and will be paid an annual salary of around £7.7m which will put him behind only Ronaldo and Kaka on Real’s list of top earners.
Spurs have continued negotiations with Roma forward Erik Lamela, Steaua Bucharest central defender Vlad Chiriches and Real left-back Fabio Coentrao and will rubber stamp the Bale move when they are happy their business is done.
Once the move for Bale is completed, Madrid will turn their attentions to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after his agent, Pere Guardiola, indicated he was open to a move.
Real have already erected a platform at the Bernabeu where they hope around 50,000 Madristas will arrive to welcome Bale.
It promises to be a busy few days in the Spanish capital and in north London, with a meeting set in Madrid for Tuesday morning to sort out striker Karim Benzema’s future.
The France star, along with team-mate Angel Di Maria, is a target for Arsene Wenger and has been told he can leave Madrid, and his exit will pave the way for the Suarez move.
Spurs technical director Franco Baldini is also working hard on deals for Lamela and Chiriches.
Roma star Lamela, who has won three caps for Argentina, will cost Spurs £25m plus a further £5m in add-ons while Chiriches will cost around £7.5m.
Spurs are still negotiating a salary with Coentrao having agreed a fee of around £15m with Real Madrid.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/zinedine-zidane-offers-mentor-gareth-2218360
Zinedine Zidane has offered to mentor Gareth Bale at Real Madrid to ensure he copes with the pressures which come with being the world’s most expensive footballer, writes The Sunday People.
Bale’s £86.3million switch will be confirmed early this week with Tuesday or Wednesday earmarked by Real bigwigs for his unveiling at the Bernabeu.
And Real sporting director Zidane, who was himself a world-record signing when he joined Madrid for £45.6m in 2001, said: “I know what it is to be the most expensive player in the world and I can hopefully offer him advice and mentor him.
“There’s always a lot of attention with a big transfer fee. As a player you don’t
even think about the fee, but there is a hysteria that comes with it.”
Zidane added: “The biggest football story of this summer has been Gareth Bale and when you join a club like Real Madrid the focus becomes even more intense.
“My door at Real Madrid will always be open for Gareth and during his first season he will need to use it. He was in the top three players in Europe last season, but he can reach even higher levels.
“He will get even better. We are looking at a guy who can be the best player in the world for the next four or five years.”
Real have agreed to pay Tottenham 50 per cent of the fee now with three further
annual instalments starting from next summer.
Bale is set to sign a six-year contract and will be paid an annual salary of around £7.7m which will put him behind only Ronaldo and Kaka on Real’s list of top earners.
Spurs have continued negotiations with Roma forward Erik Lamela, Steaua Bucharest central defender Vlad Chiriches and Real left-back Fabio Coentrao and will rubber stamp the Bale move when they are happy their business is done.
Once the move for Bale is completed, Madrid will turn their attentions to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after his agent, Pere Guardiola, indicated he was open to a move.
Real have already erected a platform at the Bernabeu where they hope around 50,000 Madristas will arrive to welcome Bale.
It promises to be a busy few days in the Spanish capital and in north London, with a meeting set in Madrid for Tuesday morning to sort out striker Karim Benzema’s future.
The France star, along with team-mate Angel Di Maria, is a target for Arsene Wenger and has been told he can leave Madrid, and his exit will pave the way for the Suarez move.
Spurs technical director Franco Baldini is also working hard on deals for Lamela and Chiriches.
Roma star Lamela, who has won three caps for Argentina, will cost Spurs £25m plus a further £5m in add-ons while Chiriches will cost around £7.5m.
Spurs are still negotiating a salary with Coentrao having agreed a fee of around £15m with Real Madrid.
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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Telegraph - Galactico life will be culture shock for Bale
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/10264155/.html
By Pete Jenson11:59PM BST 24 Aug 2013
Figo was the first one; Zinedine Zidane was the most successful one; Michael Owen was, somewhat harshly, labelled the plastic one; now Gareth Bale is set to become Real Madrid’s latest galactico. And as he will find out across the next six seasons of his €10 million-a-year contract, he is no longer just a footballer.
Florentino Perez’s business model has never wavered in 10 years, across two spells, as Real Madrid president. The club must generate more money than any other in world football. The unspoken truth is that staying top of the Forbes rich-list is almost as important as winning the Champions League.
And in order to make that happen two things are necessary: a cataclysmic thump on football’s top-table every summer with a huge bid for a big-name player; and then the subsequent marketing of the club throughout the world using the image of the newly-acquired superstar.
At the centre of it all this summer stands Bale. He has become used to seeing his face plastered on billboards in his home country, where his performances last season made him a bona fide star, but he is about to enter a different stratosphere in Madrid, A young man who was struggling to establish himself as Tottenham’s reserve left-back as recently as four years ago is in for a serious shock.
His late arrival in this transfer window might have spared him the dubious pleasures of a Real pre-season tour — David Beckham, arguably the biggest galactico of them all, was mobbed by five nurses each armed with a traditional gift of Chinese knotting on his debut against Beijing Dragons 10 years ago — but there will be no escaping the ceremonial unveiling reserved for Perez’s marquee signings. A stage has already been erected at the Bernabeu; fans will descend in their thousands just to catch a glimpse of their new No11; and he will already be prepped on the likely line of questioning, including the obligatory inquiry about whether it has always been ‘his dream’ to play for Real Madrid. At which point he will be well advised to reply: ‘Yes’.
Mourinho put an end to such presentations during his three years at Real Madrid. In many ways ‘he’ was the galactico but Bale’s arrival marks a return to the president picking a pin-up boy player to be the new image of the club.
And, as far as the galacticos are concerned, image is everything. Roberto Carlos was only half-joking when, in response to being asked in 2003 for his views on Beckham’s imminent arrival, he said: “Now that Beckham’s coming there are finally going to be two good-looking guys in the team. I am so glad, because I felt so lonely being the only handsome player in such an ugly team.”
Beckham’s cheekbones were one of the reasons Real chose not to sign Ronaldinho — Bernabeu officials asked him to wait another year, only for the Brazilian to join Barcelona instead — and Bale’s aesthetic appeal was a factor behind Perez deciding not to pursue Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, a player who better fulfils Real’s footballing requirements.
That status comes with a price, however, and off the pitch, Bale will have to get used to a level of attention that at times became too much even for Beckham.
The former England captain famously lost his temper with a photographer, shouting in his best Spanish: “In my home, at the school!” at paparazzi waiting for him to pick up his children.
Madrid’s prensa amarilla — yellow or sensationalist press — will look to fill the pages of their gossip magazines with images of Bale and his partner Emma Rhys-Jones who he has, up until now, managed to keep out of the limelight.
There will be little opportunity to sample the delights of the centre of Madrid. When Ronaldo arrived in 2009 he wanted to live in a central apartment but was soon persuaded that he should do as all the club’s players do and take refuge in the private estates of La Finca and La Moraleja to the north of the capital.
On the pitch the attention will be on him, too. Beckham was sent off once and booked 10 times in all competitions in his first six months at Madrid. Bale will have to get used to the change from the physical Premier League to Spanish football’s largely non-contact approach. There will also be starstruck referees keen to become the first to show the new turn a card.
And all eyes will be on how he handles the cultural differences. It is not unusual for some players in Spain to kiss each other when coming on as a substitute or after scoring. Beckham took to the new way of doing things almost too well and was kissing so many players one headline ran: “David, where are you going?” — the Spanish also kiss when they say goodbye.
Bale’s imminent arrival has dominated the local media — the Welshman has appeared on approximately a third of Marca front pages over the last month, without having kicked a ball for the club - but it is his global impact which really interests Perez.
The president of Real’s shirt sponsor Fly Emirates, Sheikh Al Maktoum, wants Real to play a friendly in Dubai in January during the Spanish season’s winter break. Bale’s presence will push up Perez’s asking price and increase interest in a region he has long earmarked as a lucrative marketplace. Even the timing of Bale’s possible debut, against Athletic Bilbao next Sunday, has been commercially choreographed: rather than kicking off in their usual late evening slot, the match will start at noon in Spain, ensuring a healthy TV audience in Dubai.
The added interest from sponsors and commercial partners will help repay some of the eye-watering fee Spurs have demanded for Bale - shirt sales are another, with Real hopeful that their new arrival will emulate Beckham’s tally of 8,000 on his first day at the club - but amidst the hype and the hysteria, there are some dissenting voices.
One of the foremost is the leading Spanish economist Professor José María Gay de Liébana, a respected voice in analysing La Liga’s debt. “You would have to sell five million Bale shirts to justify paying €100million for him,” he said, while pointing out that a supporter buying a Bale shirt is probably not buying the jersey of another Real Madrid player, meaning it is not necessarily added income.
But Perez has little concern for bottom lines. When, at some point in the coming days, Bale finally steps onto that ceremonial platform, and the flashbulbs pop and the crowd roar their approval, Real’s status as the natural home for razz-ma-tazz will be secure once again.
How Real’s other superstars fared
Luis Figo
July 2000, £37m from Barcelona
The deal that sparked the galacticos era and made a megastar of Figo. Demonised by his fans at Barcelona for moving to the arch-enemy but two La Ligas and a Champions League proved vindication. HIT
Zinedine Zidane
July 2001, £50m from Juventus
The Frenchman’s five years in Madrid made him a local hero, with the undoubted high point the sublime left-foot volley that won Real the 2002 Champions League. Now Real’s highly visible – and, to Madrid’s rivals, irksome – sporting director. HIT
Ronaldo
Sep 2002, £28.5m from Inter
The striker’s arrival prompted record sales of jerseys in just one day and there was no lack of goals – 118 in 194 games. But he had just one title to show for his efforts, in 2002-03. HIT
David Beckham
July 2003, £25m from Manchester United
Florentino Perez’s ultimate vanity project arrived in a blaze of publicity but he proved a surprisingly diligent superstar. Beckham won only one title, though, in his last season. HIT
Kaka
June 2009, £57m from AC Milan
The Brazilian was the world’s most prized playmaker at the time of his move but his time in Madrid has disappointed, marred by injuries and a loss of confidence. MISS
Cristiano Ronaldo
June 2009, £80m from Manchester United
A deal that came to symbolise the madness of the modern transfer market, but Ronaldo has lived up to the hype. He has 146 goals in 136 games and his duel with Lionel Messi at Barcelona has made La Liga essential viewing. HIT
Luka Modric
Aug 2012, £33m from Tottenham Hotspur
Despite the odd moment of class – notably at United in last season’s Champions League – Modric has only flickered, scoring three in 34 games. MISS
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/10264155/.html
By Pete Jenson11:59PM BST 24 Aug 2013
Figo was the first one; Zinedine Zidane was the most successful one; Michael Owen was, somewhat harshly, labelled the plastic one; now Gareth Bale is set to become Real Madrid’s latest galactico. And as he will find out across the next six seasons of his €10 million-a-year contract, he is no longer just a footballer.
Florentino Perez’s business model has never wavered in 10 years, across two spells, as Real Madrid president. The club must generate more money than any other in world football. The unspoken truth is that staying top of the Forbes rich-list is almost as important as winning the Champions League.
And in order to make that happen two things are necessary: a cataclysmic thump on football’s top-table every summer with a huge bid for a big-name player; and then the subsequent marketing of the club throughout the world using the image of the newly-acquired superstar.
At the centre of it all this summer stands Bale. He has become used to seeing his face plastered on billboards in his home country, where his performances last season made him a bona fide star, but he is about to enter a different stratosphere in Madrid, A young man who was struggling to establish himself as Tottenham’s reserve left-back as recently as four years ago is in for a serious shock.
His late arrival in this transfer window might have spared him the dubious pleasures of a Real pre-season tour — David Beckham, arguably the biggest galactico of them all, was mobbed by five nurses each armed with a traditional gift of Chinese knotting on his debut against Beijing Dragons 10 years ago — but there will be no escaping the ceremonial unveiling reserved for Perez’s marquee signings. A stage has already been erected at the Bernabeu; fans will descend in their thousands just to catch a glimpse of their new No11; and he will already be prepped on the likely line of questioning, including the obligatory inquiry about whether it has always been ‘his dream’ to play for Real Madrid. At which point he will be well advised to reply: ‘Yes’.
Mourinho put an end to such presentations during his three years at Real Madrid. In many ways ‘he’ was the galactico but Bale’s arrival marks a return to the president picking a pin-up boy player to be the new image of the club.
And, as far as the galacticos are concerned, image is everything. Roberto Carlos was only half-joking when, in response to being asked in 2003 for his views on Beckham’s imminent arrival, he said: “Now that Beckham’s coming there are finally going to be two good-looking guys in the team. I am so glad, because I felt so lonely being the only handsome player in such an ugly team.”
Beckham’s cheekbones were one of the reasons Real chose not to sign Ronaldinho — Bernabeu officials asked him to wait another year, only for the Brazilian to join Barcelona instead — and Bale’s aesthetic appeal was a factor behind Perez deciding not to pursue Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, a player who better fulfils Real’s footballing requirements.
That status comes with a price, however, and off the pitch, Bale will have to get used to a level of attention that at times became too much even for Beckham.
The former England captain famously lost his temper with a photographer, shouting in his best Spanish: “In my home, at the school!” at paparazzi waiting for him to pick up his children.
Madrid’s prensa amarilla — yellow or sensationalist press — will look to fill the pages of their gossip magazines with images of Bale and his partner Emma Rhys-Jones who he has, up until now, managed to keep out of the limelight.
There will be little opportunity to sample the delights of the centre of Madrid. When Ronaldo arrived in 2009 he wanted to live in a central apartment but was soon persuaded that he should do as all the club’s players do and take refuge in the private estates of La Finca and La Moraleja to the north of the capital.
On the pitch the attention will be on him, too. Beckham was sent off once and booked 10 times in all competitions in his first six months at Madrid. Bale will have to get used to the change from the physical Premier League to Spanish football’s largely non-contact approach. There will also be starstruck referees keen to become the first to show the new turn a card.
And all eyes will be on how he handles the cultural differences. It is not unusual for some players in Spain to kiss each other when coming on as a substitute or after scoring. Beckham took to the new way of doing things almost too well and was kissing so many players one headline ran: “David, where are you going?” — the Spanish also kiss when they say goodbye.
Bale’s imminent arrival has dominated the local media — the Welshman has appeared on approximately a third of Marca front pages over the last month, without having kicked a ball for the club - but it is his global impact which really interests Perez.
The president of Real’s shirt sponsor Fly Emirates, Sheikh Al Maktoum, wants Real to play a friendly in Dubai in January during the Spanish season’s winter break. Bale’s presence will push up Perez’s asking price and increase interest in a region he has long earmarked as a lucrative marketplace. Even the timing of Bale’s possible debut, against Athletic Bilbao next Sunday, has been commercially choreographed: rather than kicking off in their usual late evening slot, the match will start at noon in Spain, ensuring a healthy TV audience in Dubai.
The added interest from sponsors and commercial partners will help repay some of the eye-watering fee Spurs have demanded for Bale - shirt sales are another, with Real hopeful that their new arrival will emulate Beckham’s tally of 8,000 on his first day at the club - but amidst the hype and the hysteria, there are some dissenting voices.
One of the foremost is the leading Spanish economist Professor José María Gay de Liébana, a respected voice in analysing La Liga’s debt. “You would have to sell five million Bale shirts to justify paying €100million for him,” he said, while pointing out that a supporter buying a Bale shirt is probably not buying the jersey of another Real Madrid player, meaning it is not necessarily added income.
But Perez has little concern for bottom lines. When, at some point in the coming days, Bale finally steps onto that ceremonial platform, and the flashbulbs pop and the crowd roar their approval, Real’s status as the natural home for razz-ma-tazz will be secure once again.
How Real’s other superstars fared
Luis Figo
July 2000, £37m from Barcelona
The deal that sparked the galacticos era and made a megastar of Figo. Demonised by his fans at Barcelona for moving to the arch-enemy but two La Ligas and a Champions League proved vindication. HIT
Zinedine Zidane
July 2001, £50m from Juventus
The Frenchman’s five years in Madrid made him a local hero, with the undoubted high point the sublime left-foot volley that won Real the 2002 Champions League. Now Real’s highly visible – and, to Madrid’s rivals, irksome – sporting director. HIT
Ronaldo
Sep 2002, £28.5m from Inter
The striker’s arrival prompted record sales of jerseys in just one day and there was no lack of goals – 118 in 194 games. But he had just one title to show for his efforts, in 2002-03. HIT
David Beckham
July 2003, £25m from Manchester United
Florentino Perez’s ultimate vanity project arrived in a blaze of publicity but he proved a surprisingly diligent superstar. Beckham won only one title, though, in his last season. HIT
Kaka
June 2009, £57m from AC Milan
The Brazilian was the world’s most prized playmaker at the time of his move but his time in Madrid has disappointed, marred by injuries and a loss of confidence. MISS
Cristiano Ronaldo
June 2009, £80m from Manchester United
A deal that came to symbolise the madness of the modern transfer market, but Ronaldo has lived up to the hype. He has 146 goals in 136 games and his duel with Lionel Messi at Barcelona has made La Liga essential viewing. HIT
Luka Modric
Aug 2012, £33m from Tottenham Hotspur
Despite the odd moment of class – notably at United in last season’s Champions League – Modric has only flickered, scoring three in 34 games. MISS
faymantaray
Average-Sized Member
- Apr 19, 2005
- 5,577
- 8,507
Ummm... wha?
StartingPrice
Chief Sardonicus Hyperlip
- Feb 13, 2004
- 32,568
- 10,280
No. I agree.
And this passage, aside from any other issues with it, demonstrates just how completely these people do not understand the fans at all. It suggests that Barca fans should have been happy to see him defect to Real because he had won some trophies with them. That is like saying that if Bale had won a couple of trophies with us we would be happy to see him joining the Goons - just proppa retarded, really!
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
- 29,408
- 34,139
Telegraph - Bale finally seals £ 86 M move to Real Madrid
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ve-from-Tottenham-Hotspur-to-Real-Madrid.html
By Jason Burt11:00PM BST 25 Aug 2013
Tottenham Hotspur have finally agreed the world-record €100 million (£86 million) transfer of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. An official announcement is due to be made as early as Tuesday.
Significantly, the agreement involves a straight cash deal with no players coming from Real to Spurs as had been earlier discussed when inquiries were made about striker Álvaro Morata and left-back Fábio Coentrão.
Bale is in Malaga, at a villa believed to be owned by another of his representatives, David Manasseh, who works for the Stellar Group which is headed by Barnett. The 24-year old flew into Spain on Saturday, on a private jet, and spent Sunday behind the walls of the gated complex awaiting the green light on the deal. The luxury complex was being staked out yesterday by the expectant Spanish media.
He will travel to Madrid for a formal medical and to sign what is expected to be a six-year contract, believed to be worth £8.5 million a year before tax, and could also be unveiled at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Tuesday. A stage has already been erected on the eastern side of the 85,000-seat stadium alongside the directors box.
Real play away to Granada on Monday night and are home to Athletic Bilbao next Sunday in what is now expected to be Bale’s debut appearance.
The fee beats the £80 million record that Cristiano Ronaldo set when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 although it falls short of the €120 million (£103 million) that Spurs were at one time quoting to let Bale go.
Pérez responded by suggesting that €100 million was “a lot” for Bale but Spurs knew he was desperate to sign the player – and was under pressure to do so – despite having written to them this year saying an offer would not be made for now. Real have left the No 11 shirt vacant – and the Bale shirt has already apparently gone on sale in the club shop.
Spurs, however, have driven a hard bargain in terms of the payment having flatly rejected Real’s terms to cover the fee over the six-year duration of the contract. Instead Spurs have insisted that there are just three staged payments – and have also offered Real the carrot of receiving a significant discount on the total fee if they meet those payments early. Such an offer is not unusual and is a tactic that has been used before by Levy.
Conversely should Real be slow in paying up they will be hit by punitive clauses in the transfer which would lead to an increase in the overall fee.
Spurs have also played hardball in securing bank guarantees from Real over the payment having earlier expressed concerns as to whether the Spanish giants could fund the deal.
There will be relief at Spurs that the deal is going through in advance of the Sept 2 deadline when the transfer window closes. It had been expected that Spurs would delay releasing Bale until they had secured replacements but there was always a will not to let this one go down to the wire.
Having missed out on Willian, after the Brazilian attacking midfielder opted to move to Chelsea for £30 million – with Chelsea also have reached an agreement in principle to also take striker Samuel Eto’o from the Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala – Spurs are hopeful that they will sign Argentinian international winger Erik Lamela from Roma for around £26 million.
It is hoped that Spurs will add another forward player, with Zenit St Petersburg’s Hulk a possibility if a fee closer to £30 million can be agreed – although that remains a problem – and have also reached agreement to acquire the 23-year-old Romanian international central defender Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest for around £8 million.
Spurs were determined that they would not allow the Bale transfer to go to deadline day. The Wales international is believed to often stay in Malaga when he is allowed time off but his flight on Saturday followed the agreement being reached.
At one time Levy had been determined to hold on to Bale this summer and had told Spurs’ head coach Andre Villas-Boas that he would not be sold. However that was in anticipation of a Real offer of around £60 million.
Having offered a world-record fee, and with the significant game-changer that Bale himself pleaded for a move and indicated he was determined to leave, it then became an issue of agreeing the details.
Having initially negotiated solely on a cash price Spurs decided that they want to explore the possibility of taking players from Real. The club reasoned that a pile of money in the bank was no good to them if they were going to weaken their squad. However these talks broke down after Real’s valuation on their players – also including winger Ángel di Maria – was deemed too high.
Spurs then set about ensuring their secured players they wanted such as Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Étienne Capoue and, hopefully, Lamela, Chiriches and one other – to add to Paulinho.
Spurs and furious that they missed out on Willian with the Brazilian having already undergone a medical after the club believed they had agreed terms.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ve-from-Tottenham-Hotspur-to-Real-Madrid.html
By Jason Burt11:00PM BST 25 Aug 2013
Tottenham Hotspur have finally agreed the world-record €100 million (£86 million) transfer of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. An official announcement is due to be made as early as Tuesday.
Significantly, the agreement involves a straight cash deal with no players coming from Real to Spurs as had been earlier discussed when inquiries were made about striker Álvaro Morata and left-back Fábio Coentrão.
Bale is in Malaga, at a villa believed to be owned by another of his representatives, David Manasseh, who works for the Stellar Group which is headed by Barnett. The 24-year old flew into Spain on Saturday, on a private jet, and spent Sunday behind the walls of the gated complex awaiting the green light on the deal. The luxury complex was being staked out yesterday by the expectant Spanish media.
He will travel to Madrid for a formal medical and to sign what is expected to be a six-year contract, believed to be worth £8.5 million a year before tax, and could also be unveiled at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Tuesday. A stage has already been erected on the eastern side of the 85,000-seat stadium alongside the directors box.
Real play away to Granada on Monday night and are home to Athletic Bilbao next Sunday in what is now expected to be Bale’s debut appearance.
The fee beats the £80 million record that Cristiano Ronaldo set when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 although it falls short of the €120 million (£103 million) that Spurs were at one time quoting to let Bale go.
Pérez responded by suggesting that €100 million was “a lot” for Bale but Spurs knew he was desperate to sign the player – and was under pressure to do so – despite having written to them this year saying an offer would not be made for now. Real have left the No 11 shirt vacant – and the Bale shirt has already apparently gone on sale in the club shop.
Spurs, however, have driven a hard bargain in terms of the payment having flatly rejected Real’s terms to cover the fee over the six-year duration of the contract. Instead Spurs have insisted that there are just three staged payments – and have also offered Real the carrot of receiving a significant discount on the total fee if they meet those payments early. Such an offer is not unusual and is a tactic that has been used before by Levy.
Conversely should Real be slow in paying up they will be hit by punitive clauses in the transfer which would lead to an increase in the overall fee.
Spurs have also played hardball in securing bank guarantees from Real over the payment having earlier expressed concerns as to whether the Spanish giants could fund the deal.
There will be relief at Spurs that the deal is going through in advance of the Sept 2 deadline when the transfer window closes. It had been expected that Spurs would delay releasing Bale until they had secured replacements but there was always a will not to let this one go down to the wire.
Having missed out on Willian, after the Brazilian attacking midfielder opted to move to Chelsea for £30 million – with Chelsea also have reached an agreement in principle to also take striker Samuel Eto’o from the Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala – Spurs are hopeful that they will sign Argentinian international winger Erik Lamela from Roma for around £26 million.
It is hoped that Spurs will add another forward player, with Zenit St Petersburg’s Hulk a possibility if a fee closer to £30 million can be agreed – although that remains a problem – and have also reached agreement to acquire the 23-year-old Romanian international central defender Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest for around £8 million.
Spurs were determined that they would not allow the Bale transfer to go to deadline day. The Wales international is believed to often stay in Malaga when he is allowed time off but his flight on Saturday followed the agreement being reached.
At one time Levy had been determined to hold on to Bale this summer and had told Spurs’ head coach Andre Villas-Boas that he would not be sold. However that was in anticipation of a Real offer of around £60 million.
Having offered a world-record fee, and with the significant game-changer that Bale himself pleaded for a move and indicated he was determined to leave, it then became an issue of agreeing the details.
Having initially negotiated solely on a cash price Spurs decided that they want to explore the possibility of taking players from Real. The club reasoned that a pile of money in the bank was no good to them if they were going to weaken their squad. However these talks broke down after Real’s valuation on their players – also including winger Ángel di Maria – was deemed too high.
Spurs then set about ensuring their secured players they wanted such as Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Étienne Capoue and, hopefully, Lamela, Chiriches and one other – to add to Paulinho.
Spurs and furious that they missed out on Willian with the Brazilian having already undergone a medical after the club believed they had agreed terms.
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
- 29,408
- 34,139
Telegraph - Gareth Bale poised to become a global superstar at Real Madrid, but he was almost let go at 15 by Southampton
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...e-was-almost-let-go-at-15-by-Southampton.html
By Jeremy Wilson11:00PM BST 25 Aug 2013
The story of how a scrawny schoolboy from Cardiff developed into football’s first £100 million player is remarkable on so many different levels.
But perhaps none is more incredible than just how close Gareth Bale came to not even fulfilling his basic dream of becoming a professional player.
Unlike many of football’s most illustrious names, Bale was not marked out for greatness from early childhood but has instead joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the most elite bracket of world superstars from a teenage foundation that was shaped by injuries, setbacks and uncertainty.
Even as recently as January 2005, when Bale was almost 16, Southampton were within 90 minutes of releasing him.
Rod Ruddick, who managed the club’s satellite academy in Bath, discovered Bale at a Welsh Under-9s six-a-side tournament but can still vividly recall how his progress stalled. "Between the ages of 14 and 16 he had growth spurts which affected his mobility and strength - he had an horrendous three years," Ruddick said.
The first real make or break moment was when Southampton’s Under-18 team played Norwich City just 48 hours before final decisions were being taken on who should stay at the club.
A series of back injuries had caused Bale to miss much of the season and there were serious doubts over whether he should be awarded a contract.
Among the few dozen spectators at Norwich City’s training ground were Bale’s parents, Frank and Debbie, and Malcolm Elias, then head of recruitment at Southampton and the man charged with determining his future.
"I remember the day very clearly," Elias said. "His parents had driven all the way from Cardiff to Norwich in the knowledge that it was make or break for Gareth. He knew that it was make or break too.
"It was obvious that he was a good player but he kept missing games and there were question marks about his physicality. It sounds unbelievable now, but it was 'Is he going to be physically and mentally tough enough?'
"He’d had so many injury problems that evaluating him was very difficult because he never played enough games. The pressure was massive but his performance that day was flawless."
With Bale in rampaging form down the left and Theo Walcott scoring a hat-trick by half-time, Southampton demolished Norwich City 5-1.
"Thank goodness we got it right — it shows what a thin dividing line there can be in sport," Elias said.
There were never any doubts about Bale’s technical quality, particularly the sweetness of his left foot.
His teacher at Cardiff’s Whitchurch High School, Gwyn Morris, still tells the story of how Bale would be limited during PE lessons to one touch and only using his right foot. "It was the only way we could have an even game," said Morris.
Like David Beckham, Bale become renowned at Southampton and now Tottenham for his willingness to spend hours alone after training honing his free-kicks.
"The first time I saw Gareth play was when he was 13, in my first year here," said Georges Prost, the former technical director of Southampton’s academy. "He was playing as a left-winger then and had such a lovely left foot. Repetition is the best way to improve and I often saw Gareth taking free-kick after free-kick in his own time."
Staff both at Spurs and Saints describe Bale's personality in the same way. He is polite and quiet almost to the point of seeming shy but, beneath that placid exterior, is a rare resilience and determination to reach the very pinnacle of his sport.
He has frequently been underestimated. Harry Redknapp, for one, would question when he was Tottenham manager whether Bale really wanted to play outside of England. He had noted how regularly Bale returned back to Wales to see his family and friends and doubted if he would force through a transfer to Real Madrid.
Julia Upson was Bale’s landlady when he shared a room with Theo Walcott at Southampton’s academy accommodation and says there was always something in his character that convinced her he would be successful.
"It was always felt that Theo could achieve great things but Gareth’s progress was less certain early on," said Upson. "Gareth was very determined but he would beat himself up a bit sometimes. I think sharing a room helped both of them. They were a good influence on each other. You have got to have talent to start with, but you must be mentally strong too.
"Some players do let success go to their heads but, with Theo and Gareth, you always knew they had the right attitude and temperament."
Those who know Bale best are all convinced that he will now be unaffected either by becoming the most expensive player in football history or the imminent explosion of his global fame.
"His parents are the salt of the earth and brought him up well in giving him time and love," Bale's uncle, Chris Pike, said. "I'm sure he won’t change. He is not motivated by money, by fame, he just loves playing football."
As for the final bit in bold - REALLY ?????
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...e-was-almost-let-go-at-15-by-Southampton.html
By Jeremy Wilson11:00PM BST 25 Aug 2013
The story of how a scrawny schoolboy from Cardiff developed into football’s first £100 million player is remarkable on so many different levels.
But perhaps none is more incredible than just how close Gareth Bale came to not even fulfilling his basic dream of becoming a professional player.
Unlike many of football’s most illustrious names, Bale was not marked out for greatness from early childhood but has instead joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the most elite bracket of world superstars from a teenage foundation that was shaped by injuries, setbacks and uncertainty.
Even as recently as January 2005, when Bale was almost 16, Southampton were within 90 minutes of releasing him.
Rod Ruddick, who managed the club’s satellite academy in Bath, discovered Bale at a Welsh Under-9s six-a-side tournament but can still vividly recall how his progress stalled. "Between the ages of 14 and 16 he had growth spurts which affected his mobility and strength - he had an horrendous three years," Ruddick said.
The first real make or break moment was when Southampton’s Under-18 team played Norwich City just 48 hours before final decisions were being taken on who should stay at the club.
A series of back injuries had caused Bale to miss much of the season and there were serious doubts over whether he should be awarded a contract.
Among the few dozen spectators at Norwich City’s training ground were Bale’s parents, Frank and Debbie, and Malcolm Elias, then head of recruitment at Southampton and the man charged with determining his future.
"I remember the day very clearly," Elias said. "His parents had driven all the way from Cardiff to Norwich in the knowledge that it was make or break for Gareth. He knew that it was make or break too.
"It was obvious that he was a good player but he kept missing games and there were question marks about his physicality. It sounds unbelievable now, but it was 'Is he going to be physically and mentally tough enough?'
"He’d had so many injury problems that evaluating him was very difficult because he never played enough games. The pressure was massive but his performance that day was flawless."
With Bale in rampaging form down the left and Theo Walcott scoring a hat-trick by half-time, Southampton demolished Norwich City 5-1.
"Thank goodness we got it right — it shows what a thin dividing line there can be in sport," Elias said.
There were never any doubts about Bale’s technical quality, particularly the sweetness of his left foot.
His teacher at Cardiff’s Whitchurch High School, Gwyn Morris, still tells the story of how Bale would be limited during PE lessons to one touch and only using his right foot. "It was the only way we could have an even game," said Morris.
Like David Beckham, Bale become renowned at Southampton and now Tottenham for his willingness to spend hours alone after training honing his free-kicks.
"The first time I saw Gareth play was when he was 13, in my first year here," said Georges Prost, the former technical director of Southampton’s academy. "He was playing as a left-winger then and had such a lovely left foot. Repetition is the best way to improve and I often saw Gareth taking free-kick after free-kick in his own time."
Staff both at Spurs and Saints describe Bale's personality in the same way. He is polite and quiet almost to the point of seeming shy but, beneath that placid exterior, is a rare resilience and determination to reach the very pinnacle of his sport.
He has frequently been underestimated. Harry Redknapp, for one, would question when he was Tottenham manager whether Bale really wanted to play outside of England. He had noted how regularly Bale returned back to Wales to see his family and friends and doubted if he would force through a transfer to Real Madrid.
Julia Upson was Bale’s landlady when he shared a room with Theo Walcott at Southampton’s academy accommodation and says there was always something in his character that convinced her he would be successful.
"It was always felt that Theo could achieve great things but Gareth’s progress was less certain early on," said Upson. "Gareth was very determined but he would beat himself up a bit sometimes. I think sharing a room helped both of them. They were a good influence on each other. You have got to have talent to start with, but you must be mentally strong too.
"Some players do let success go to their heads but, with Theo and Gareth, you always knew they had the right attitude and temperament."
Those who know Bale best are all convinced that he will now be unaffected either by becoming the most expensive player in football history or the imminent explosion of his global fame.
"His parents are the salt of the earth and brought him up well in giving him time and love," Bale's uncle, Chris Pike, said. "I'm sure he won’t change. He is not motivated by money, by fame, he just loves playing football."
As for the final bit in bold - REALLY ?????
MR_BEN
Well-Known Member
- Aug 5, 2005
- 3,157
- 1,562
You question that? He's going to a much bigger club, with much more chance of success. Maybe it is all about football.
You could question whether he joined us for football or money from the saints.....
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
- 29,408
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If it was just about football he would stay with us, if he was to move for success fair enough but that was not implied
Ribble
Well-Known Member
- Apr 13, 2011
- 3,522
- 4,803
He's never made a secret of his desire to play abroad, it's a big step for a British player and one that few have succeeded in at the highest level.
Edit: Not that I think it's the right decision for him to go this season, I think that both his agent and Perez have pushed it without thinking about what would be best for Bale as a player.
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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Glenn Hoddle - Bale may not be ready to leave Tottenham
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/a...-gareth-bale-may-not-be-ready-to-leave-spurs/
5:16pm, Mon 26 Aug 2013
Hoddle: Real Madrid target Gareth Bale may not be ready to leave Spurs
Former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle believes selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid could prove to be a mistake for both club and player.
Bale, 24, has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital for much of the summer, although it materialised on Monday that Spurs were also considering bids from at least one other club.
The Wales international still seems likely to leave White Hart Lane before the close on the transfer window in a week's time, but a move to the Bernabeu would not suit the player, according to Hoddle, who also accepts Spurs would miss him despite investing heavily over the summer.
"I have already expressed my doubts as to whether Gareth, undoubtedly a fantastic young player, is ready for such a move as a person," the ex-England boss told zapsportz.com.
"But are Spurs, as a club, ready to let him go? I don't think they are - I liked the look of the new boys in a team that, generally, were okay but not too much more than that. They were too good for Swansea who, frankly, disappointed me a bit."
Bale missed the 1-0 win over Swansea on Sunday as he had been given time off, with suggestions a trip to Spain over the weekend would have also seen him finalise details over a deal that was likely to break the world record transfer fee.
But Hoddle reckons Spurs chairman Daniel Levy may dig his heels in and keep the player, especially if the only other options than to sell to Madrid were to let Bale move to one of the club's Barclays Premier League rivals.
"Spurs were just missing that wow factor. Or Bale factor, if you like," Hoddle added.
"Ideally, Daniel Levy would inject the missing magic by keeping Bale. I know he that ideally he would love to keep him and really see how high Spurs could fly.
"He is loath to sell him to another English club so if there is a second bid, as was touted (on Monday morning), then I know Daniel would not welcome losing his top player to a direct rival. In fact, he doesn't really want to sell him to Real Madrid.
"But football is a business and money talks. How can Daniel Levy keep hold of an unhappy player? So the likelihood is Bale will not be wearing the Spurs shirt again after September 2."
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/a...-gareth-bale-may-not-be-ready-to-leave-spurs/
5:16pm, Mon 26 Aug 2013
Hoddle: Real Madrid target Gareth Bale may not be ready to leave Spurs
Former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle believes selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid could prove to be a mistake for both club and player.
Bale, 24, has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital for much of the summer, although it materialised on Monday that Spurs were also considering bids from at least one other club.
The Wales international still seems likely to leave White Hart Lane before the close on the transfer window in a week's time, but a move to the Bernabeu would not suit the player, according to Hoddle, who also accepts Spurs would miss him despite investing heavily over the summer.
"I have already expressed my doubts as to whether Gareth, undoubtedly a fantastic young player, is ready for such a move as a person," the ex-England boss told zapsportz.com.
"But are Spurs, as a club, ready to let him go? I don't think they are - I liked the look of the new boys in a team that, generally, were okay but not too much more than that. They were too good for Swansea who, frankly, disappointed me a bit."
Bale missed the 1-0 win over Swansea on Sunday as he had been given time off, with suggestions a trip to Spain over the weekend would have also seen him finalise details over a deal that was likely to break the world record transfer fee.
But Hoddle reckons Spurs chairman Daniel Levy may dig his heels in and keep the player, especially if the only other options than to sell to Madrid were to let Bale move to one of the club's Barclays Premier League rivals.
"Spurs were just missing that wow factor. Or Bale factor, if you like," Hoddle added.
"Ideally, Daniel Levy would inject the missing magic by keeping Bale. I know he that ideally he would love to keep him and really see how high Spurs could fly.
"He is loath to sell him to another English club so if there is a second bid, as was touted (on Monday morning), then I know Daniel would not welcome losing his top player to a direct rival. In fact, he doesn't really want to sell him to Real Madrid.
"But football is a business and money talks. How can Daniel Levy keep hold of an unhappy player? So the likelihood is Bale will not be wearing the Spurs shirt again after September 2."
shelfmonkey
Weird is different, different is interesting.
- Mar 21, 2007
- 6,690
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I don't think he'll enjoy the bitchiness coming from the pro Ronaldo camp and that could affect his performances on the pitch. I can quite honestly see him being a failure over there because of this and it will either ruin him or he'll end up at Man Ure, on the cheap, and probably biting us on the arse!!!!!
tototoner
Staying Alert
- Mar 21, 2004
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Daily Mail - Signed, sealed, delivered! Madrid stage is set for Gareth's grand entrance
By MATT BARLOW
PUBLISHED: 00:19, 27 August 2013 | UPDATED: 00:32, 27 August 2013
From the creaking boards of the temporary stage erected to present Gareth Bale to his new audience it is not hard to understand why the Welshman has set his heart on this move to Real Madrid.
Five tiers of blue-and-white seats steeple towards a clear blue sky and when he steps out on to the canvas-topped scaffold, perhaps later this week, thousands will be there to acclaim his switch from the lilywhite of Tottenham to Los Merengues.
When the time comes for him to pull on the famous white Real shirt for real and leave the home dressing room, turn left, down 24 steps into the tunnel before climbing 14 steps on to the turf, the place will be packed, dripping with adulation, excited to see their latest Galactico.
They will back their man here at a club where smashing the transfer record has become a habit, although yesterday the clamour was limited.
Supporters have faith in president Florentino Perez to capture his prime target before the transfer window closes next week.
Dependable barometers of Madrid opinion such as taxi drivers and bartenders knew little of Bale, other than that the £86million fee seemed a little high, in their view.
Fans, mostly tourists, on the stadium tour were unaware of the significance of the small stage, erected behind the benches where the coaches and substitutes sit. Nobody was thinking about taking it down yesterday, although, for Daniel Levy, it will probably represent a moral victory if the deal drags through the weekend and it has to be dismantled for Sunday’s game against Athletic Bilbao.
At La Bodega and the Orsay Bar, cafes in the shadow of the Bernabeu Stadium, fans sipped their coffees and, later, cervezas and debated the imminent arrival of Bale.
They had seen the photographs in the sports papers which showed him and his family in and around the swimming pool at a five-star apartment in Marbella in the south of Spain.
‘Bale relaxes,’ said the headline and the stories made it clear that it was only a matter of time.
But Levy’s reputation for squeezing every last pound from a transfer deal extends at the very least to the Spanish capital. A lone photographer stood vigil by the entrance to Real’s offices. The team were in Andalusia for last night’s game against Granada but he was hoping for a telling glimpse of a director or an agent as they nipped by, into the underground car park.
Nearby, the club shop had its shirts on display in numerical order, with a striking gap between No 10 Mesut Ozil and No 12 Marcelo.
Staff printing names on to the shirts confirmed there had been requests for Bale’s name and a No 11 but they could not oblige. You might see a counterfeit version, they explained, but nothing official. Not until ‘it’ was official.
Some Real fans were concerned that yesterday’s developments might threaten the deal but most expect Perez to get his man, although they are unsure what to make of him.
One season ticket holder in La Bodega admitted he had barely seen Bale play, since Tottenham were not regulars in the Champions League and he never watched Wales. Nor did he know where Carlo Ancelotti ought to play him.
‘He’s left foot, no?’ asked another as a quick mini-poll was organised among friends at the Marca Sports Cafe, a Real stronghold. They concluded that Bale would most probably feature on the right.
Among the shifting of salt and pepper pots and toothpick holders, this would leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, Karim Benzema at centre forward and Isco in the playmaker’s role at No 10. Last night, Isco played a little deeper, alongside Luka Modric in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
On top of this, Bale will carry the banner of being the world’s most expensive footballer and be compared to the likes of Ozil and Angel Di Maria, with their many Champions League appearances behind them.
Tour the Bernabeu and it is impossible not to be swept away by the glorious past of Real Madrid. Nine European Cups, 32 league titles and 18 Spanish Cups.
This is the club who deal in glamour more than any other. There is a special case reserved for those Real players who have won the Ballon d’Or annual award for Europe’s best player.
There are 11 Goldenballs on display and none belong to David Beckham, who is a curiously low-key figure in the club’s halls of fame.
Two are for Alfredo Di Stefano, two for (the original) Ronaldo and one each for Raymond Kopa, Kaka, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro, Zine-dine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen.
This is the company Bale will step into if his transfer can be completed. Nobody here doubts that it will
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...areth-Bales-grand-entrance.html#ixzz2d8kGdbaw
By MATT BARLOW
PUBLISHED: 00:19, 27 August 2013 | UPDATED: 00:32, 27 August 2013
From the creaking boards of the temporary stage erected to present Gareth Bale to his new audience it is not hard to understand why the Welshman has set his heart on this move to Real Madrid.
Five tiers of blue-and-white seats steeple towards a clear blue sky and when he steps out on to the canvas-topped scaffold, perhaps later this week, thousands will be there to acclaim his switch from the lilywhite of Tottenham to Los Merengues.
When the time comes for him to pull on the famous white Real shirt for real and leave the home dressing room, turn left, down 24 steps into the tunnel before climbing 14 steps on to the turf, the place will be packed, dripping with adulation, excited to see their latest Galactico.
They will back their man here at a club where smashing the transfer record has become a habit, although yesterday the clamour was limited.
Supporters have faith in president Florentino Perez to capture his prime target before the transfer window closes next week.
Dependable barometers of Madrid opinion such as taxi drivers and bartenders knew little of Bale, other than that the £86million fee seemed a little high, in their view.
Fans, mostly tourists, on the stadium tour were unaware of the significance of the small stage, erected behind the benches where the coaches and substitutes sit. Nobody was thinking about taking it down yesterday, although, for Daniel Levy, it will probably represent a moral victory if the deal drags through the weekend and it has to be dismantled for Sunday’s game against Athletic Bilbao.
At La Bodega and the Orsay Bar, cafes in the shadow of the Bernabeu Stadium, fans sipped their coffees and, later, cervezas and debated the imminent arrival of Bale.
They had seen the photographs in the sports papers which showed him and his family in and around the swimming pool at a five-star apartment in Marbella in the south of Spain.
‘Bale relaxes,’ said the headline and the stories made it clear that it was only a matter of time.
But Levy’s reputation for squeezing every last pound from a transfer deal extends at the very least to the Spanish capital. A lone photographer stood vigil by the entrance to Real’s offices. The team were in Andalusia for last night’s game against Granada but he was hoping for a telling glimpse of a director or an agent as they nipped by, into the underground car park.
Nearby, the club shop had its shirts on display in numerical order, with a striking gap between No 10 Mesut Ozil and No 12 Marcelo.
Staff printing names on to the shirts confirmed there had been requests for Bale’s name and a No 11 but they could not oblige. You might see a counterfeit version, they explained, but nothing official. Not until ‘it’ was official.
Some Real fans were concerned that yesterday’s developments might threaten the deal but most expect Perez to get his man, although they are unsure what to make of him.
One season ticket holder in La Bodega admitted he had barely seen Bale play, since Tottenham were not regulars in the Champions League and he never watched Wales. Nor did he know where Carlo Ancelotti ought to play him.
‘He’s left foot, no?’ asked another as a quick mini-poll was organised among friends at the Marca Sports Cafe, a Real stronghold. They concluded that Bale would most probably feature on the right.
Among the shifting of salt and pepper pots and toothpick holders, this would leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, Karim Benzema at centre forward and Isco in the playmaker’s role at No 10. Last night, Isco played a little deeper, alongside Luka Modric in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
On top of this, Bale will carry the banner of being the world’s most expensive footballer and be compared to the likes of Ozil and Angel Di Maria, with their many Champions League appearances behind them.
Tour the Bernabeu and it is impossible not to be swept away by the glorious past of Real Madrid. Nine European Cups, 32 league titles and 18 Spanish Cups.
This is the club who deal in glamour more than any other. There is a special case reserved for those Real players who have won the Ballon d’Or annual award for Europe’s best player.
There are 11 Goldenballs on display and none belong to David Beckham, who is a curiously low-key figure in the club’s halls of fame.
Two are for Alfredo Di Stefano, two for (the original) Ronaldo and one each for Raymond Kopa, Kaka, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro, Zine-dine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen.
This is the company Bale will step into if his transfer can be completed. Nobody here doubts that it will
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...areth-Bales-grand-entrance.html#ixzz2d8kGdbaw
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- Mar 21, 2004
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Express - Mystery bid No2 for Tottenham star Gareth Bale
A MYSTERY second bidder has emerged in the Gareth Bale transfer saga as Tottenham continued to take a stand – over a stand.
By: Matthew Dunn Tue, August 27, 2013
Wales international Bale is expected at training this morning after flying back from two days’ leave in Spain over the Bank Holiday to continue his rehabilitation from a foot injury. And Real Madrid have given up plans of unveiling him today after Spurs were angered by Madrid’s “arrogance” in believing that they were about to get their man.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was furious that a special stand was constructed at the Bernabeu on Friday for the public presentation of Bale, 24, to the fans.
And he was further irked when Madrid shirts with Bale’s name on were advertised briefly on an official website. Spurs claim that they were not responsible for leaking news of a second bid, but would not deny that one had been lodged.
The presence of another team ready and able to match the world-record valuation of Bale is being used as further evidence that Madrid cannot expect to get things all their own way.
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United are the only clubs to have been reported to have shown an interest in Bale outside of Madrid, although United moved quickly to deny they were the other party.
Tottenham accept that Bale is not interested in a move to anywhere except Real Madrid, but they see an additional bid as an extra card in the final rounds of negotiations.
Although the two clubs are in rough agreement on an £86m deal, Madrid want to stage the payments over six years, an arrangement that does not suit the Premier League club.
A further problem is the late hijacking of Willian’s £30m move to White Hart Lane by Chelsea – Levy had hoped to have “re-invested” the bulk of the Bale transfer fee before that huge windfall pushed up prices.
Tottenham will now watch how Chelsea’s stance over Juan Mata is affected by the response to an anticipated third bid for Wayne Rooney. An initial enquiry from Andre Villas-Boas over a player he originally signed for £23.5m for Chelsea two summers ago was given short shrift at the weekend, but the potential arrival of the Manchester United striker, who would be yet another contender for Mata’s preferred No10 position, could have a major impact on the situation.
The Spaniard is said to be uneasy about his chances of regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge, especially with a World Cup on the horizon next year.
A MYSTERY second bidder has emerged in the Gareth Bale transfer saga as Tottenham continued to take a stand – over a stand.
By: Matthew Dunn Tue, August 27, 2013
Wales international Bale is expected at training this morning after flying back from two days’ leave in Spain over the Bank Holiday to continue his rehabilitation from a foot injury. And Real Madrid have given up plans of unveiling him today after Spurs were angered by Madrid’s “arrogance” in believing that they were about to get their man.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was furious that a special stand was constructed at the Bernabeu on Friday for the public presentation of Bale, 24, to the fans.
And he was further irked when Madrid shirts with Bale’s name on were advertised briefly on an official website. Spurs claim that they were not responsible for leaking news of a second bid, but would not deny that one had been lodged.
The presence of another team ready and able to match the world-record valuation of Bale is being used as further evidence that Madrid cannot expect to get things all their own way.
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United are the only clubs to have been reported to have shown an interest in Bale outside of Madrid, although United moved quickly to deny they were the other party.
Tottenham accept that Bale is not interested in a move to anywhere except Real Madrid, but they see an additional bid as an extra card in the final rounds of negotiations.
Although the two clubs are in rough agreement on an £86m deal, Madrid want to stage the payments over six years, an arrangement that does not suit the Premier League club.
A further problem is the late hijacking of Willian’s £30m move to White Hart Lane by Chelsea – Levy had hoped to have “re-invested” the bulk of the Bale transfer fee before that huge windfall pushed up prices.
Tottenham will now watch how Chelsea’s stance over Juan Mata is affected by the response to an anticipated third bid for Wayne Rooney. An initial enquiry from Andre Villas-Boas over a player he originally signed for £23.5m for Chelsea two summers ago was given short shrift at the weekend, but the potential arrival of the Manchester United striker, who would be yet another contender for Mata’s preferred No10 position, could have a major impact on the situation.
The Spaniard is said to be uneasy about his chances of regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge, especially with a World Cup on the horizon next year.
