Tottenham complete Gareth Bale transfer as Real Madrid star returns

Tottenham have completed a sensational swoop for Real Madrid star Gareth Bale.

The Welshman will earn £20million-a-year on loan in north London, becoming one of the Premier League’s best-paid players in the process.

Spurs will pay £250k-a-week of his £600k-a-week wages, with his parent club continuing to pay the bulk.

Bale flew into London on Friday to complete the formalities of his move. He was joined by former Real Madrid teammate Sergio Reguilon, who has also signed, in a £27million deal.

Bale developed into one of Premier League’s shining stars during his stint at Spurs before heading to Real Madrid seven years ago for a then world-record fee of £85.3million.

Bale enjoyed a trophy-laden spell in Spain, winning four Champions League medals. The Spanish giants have wished him well, stating: “Our club wishes the best of luck to a player who is part of one of the most successful periods of our history.”

However, he had fallen out of favour at the Bernabeu, with Zinedine Zidane deeming him surplus to requirements.

Manchester United were linked with a move for the 31-year-old but Bale has opted to return to north London and link up with Jose Mourinho’s men.

His early years at Tottenham were blighted by injuries and a lack of clarity over where he was best suited, while his first victory as a starter in the top flight came at the 23rd time of asking in January 2010.

Bale quickly kicked on as later that year he bagged a hat-trick against Inter Milan at San Siro, with Spurs losing 4-3 despite his efforts, while he was subsequently integral to a famous Tottenham win over the reigning European champions at White Hart Lane.

In his final season before moving to Spain, he scored 21 times in 33 top-flight appearances – the first time he had reached double figures – to collect a glut of individual honours.

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