Back in October 2009 one major newspaper in England reported that Tottenham flop Gareth Bale could be on his way to Birmingham for as little as £3 million pounds. Now reports suggest that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has rejected a world record £85 million bid from Spanish giants Real Madrid. In a remarkable four years at Spurs, Bale has turned his career around from a left back struggling to make the first 11 to a deadly attacking midfield player who is capable of worrying the world’s best defenders.
In April 2006 Bale made his Southampton debut in a 2-0 victory over fellow Championship side Millwall, becoming the second youngest player to play for the club behind Theo Walcott. After an impressive season and gaining a reputation for becoming some what of a set piece specialist, Tottenham decided to splash the cash on the youngster and beating off local rivals Arsenal for Bale’s signature. The fee was £5 million up front with a further £5 million add-ons depending on Premier League appearances and personal accolades. However with Southampton in financial disorder at the time and Spurs only paid a further £2 million for his services.
Life at Spurs was proving difficult for Bale after a string of poor performances he found himself down the pecking order and was second choice left back to Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Bale also had the unfortunate title of never being on a winning Tottenham side for a massive twenty four league matches up until September 2009. From then the promising teenager who showed so much talent at Southampton was becoming to find his feet in the Premier League and in April 2010 he scored his first goal in a north London derby which proved to be the winner. Spurs claimed the lucrative 4th Champions League place in the league and Bale was rewarded for his recent good form with a new contract.
The 2010-2011 season we saw a new side of Bale, playing from the left wing under Harry Redknapp, his electrifying pace was too much for defenders his ability to beat the defender and deliver a cross for his team mates provided plenty of goals. Bale scored one of the goals of the season in a 2-1 away win against Stoke City where he received the ball from chest height and slotted it into the top corner where it was voted goal of the month for August. It was on October the 20th when the world took note of Bale. 4-0 to Inter Milan with 10 men in the San Siro, Bale scores a hat-trick and humiliates highly rated Brazilian defender Maicon. Big clubs began to become interested in the winger but Bale agreed to stay at White Hart Lane and extended his current contract to 2015. He finished the season by winning the PFA Player of the Year award.
The 2012-2013 season chairman Daniel Levy decided to install Andre Villas-Boas as manager and Bale was given the number 11 shirt. This was to be Bale’s best season yet. Villas-Boas changed the way Bale was playing and position wise, he got it spot on. Moving Bale to a more central role just behind the main striker or some times even as the main striker. The goals came, he had racked up 21 league goals in 33 games. He scored vital goals to win Spurs the match against West Ham, West Brom, Newcastle and on the last day of the season against Sunderland. Bale’s goals and performances weren’t enough for Spurs to make a Champions League spot where they missed out to local rivals Arsenal. Bale scooped the PFA Young and Player of the Year awards along with the football writers award, the only other player to win all 3 in one season? Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale’s fantastic season and performances alerted all the major clubs across Europe and it was Real Madrid who came up with the offer of £85 million pounds. Real are no strangers to mega money buys, they broke their own world record transfer to bring Ronaldo from Manchester United for £80million. Kaka, Zidane, Figo, Benzema, what ever the price Madrid paid they always got their man. Reports in Spain claim that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wants £100 million pounds for Bale who is a player who excelled in one season in the Premier League. When Ronaldo moved to Spain he had won everything he could at Manchester United and was crowned World Player of the Year. His return at Madrid has been priceless averaging more than one per game as he helped them claim the La Liga title from Barca, who many claim were the best team ever.
Bale himself wants the move to happen as he hasn’t featured in pre season matches where Spurs were suggesting an injury is the problem. With Levy playing hard ball over Bale it is unsure weather Florentino Perez the president of Madrid will return with the asking price. Real Madrid’s behaviour over the signing of Luka Modric from Spurs hasn’t helped the deal. Spurs rejected a £40 million pound bid from Madrid 2 seasons ago and Modric wanted the move but was forced to stay a season in which he later left for £30 million. Perez normally gets the man whether or not Bale is worth the £100 million Spurs want for him remains to be seen. Champions League and an all star eleven is an offer Gareth Bale can’t refuse.
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