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BALE

Madrid move a ‘dream come true’: €100m Bale

Gareth Bale hailed his move to Real Madrid as a "dream come true" as he was officially unveiled in front of 20,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday.

Madrid move a 'dream come true': €100m Bale
Real Madrid's new Welsh striker Gareth Bale waves on the pitch during his presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Photo: Pierre Philippe Marcou/AFP

Bale's prolonged transfer from Tottenham Hotspur was finally completed on Sunday evening with reports in England suggesting the Welshman had become the most expensive player of all time at €101 million ($133.5 million, £86 million).

And the 24-year-old has already targeted winning the Champions League this season as his main goal.

"It is a dream come true for me to play for Real Madrid," he said in Spanish, to the delight of the local fans.

"I hope to be able to help the team have success and win the 10th European Cup this year."

Bale then took to the pitch at the Bernabeu for the first time in his new Real kit to perform a series of tricks and to kick balls into the stands for the adoring fans.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had earlier welcomed Bale to the club and repeated Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's sentiment that the player's desire to move to Madrid had played a key role in the deal.

"We are in this temple of Real Madrid to incorporate a new man who knows very clearly what are the values of this club," Perez said.

"A man who has been chosen as the best player in the Premier League last season. A young footballer but with great qualities, committed to the sport and whose dream has been to be a Real Madrid player.

"Gareth you are going to help us to make the legend of this club even greater and stronger. This is your stadium, your shirt, your badge and your fans. From today this is your home."

The 24-year-old arrived in the Spanish capital on Sunday night before undergoing a medical on Monday morning, which he passed without any problems despite not having played since mid-July due to an apparent foot injury.

"The truth is that he has arrived in excellent physical condition and is at the disposition of the coaching team for use whenever they think it is convenient," Carlos Diez, head of Madrid's medical team, told the club's website.

"I would underline his physical condition. He has come to the club marvellously in this sense and I think he is going to take advantage of that very well."

Bale is due to report for international duty with Wales on Tuesday ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia in the coming week.

However, Madrid sports daily Marca reported that Real were set to ask the Welsh FA to release him back to the club so that they can put him through their own mini pre-season training programme to ensure that he is match fit to make his debut in their next league game against Villarreal on September 14.

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REAL MADRID

Bale absence may boost Real’s Clásico hopes

An injury to Real Madrid's Welsh star Gareth Bale means coach Carlo Ancelotti can play a four-man midfield in a bid to dispute Barcelona’s dominance of possession in Saturday’s star-studded clash between Spain's two richest teams.

Bale absence may boost Real's Clásico hopes
Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale may not be missed given the outstanding quality available at the club. Photo: Miguel Riopa/AFP

The most star-studded game in world football will be missing one of its brightest lights at 6pm on Saturday as Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu without the injured Gareth Bale.

It took the Welshman the best part of the three goes at the Clásico to make an impact, but he eventually did so in stunning style with an incredible solo run and finish to win Real their 19th Copa del Rey back in April.

Ajax coach Frank de Boer echoed the thoughts of many when he replied "Bale's absence is a shame for football" when asked for his view on the game after his side had been beaten by Barcelona on Tuesday.

SEE ALSO: Ten things you need to know about Spain's La Liga: The Local gallery

However, as Madrid showed in dismantling Liverpool at Anfield 24 hours later without Bale, Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal, they have the depth in quality to cope even without world-class players.

Moreover, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti will be left with more than just memories of Bale's goal from the Copa del Rey final. Prior to that meeting at Valencia's Mestalla stadium, the Italian had gone nearly 10 years and seven games against the Catalans with three different clubs without tasting victory. 

That night without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Ancelotti switched to a 4-4-2 formation from the 4-3-3 he has used for the majority of his time in charge at Madrid thanks to having the luxury of Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema in attack.

Even with the famed "BBC", as they have become known in the Spanish press, Madrid were no match for Barça in their two league meetings last season. Barça's numerical advantage in midfield allowed them to dictate the tempo and cut the supply line to Madrid's front three.

At the Mestalla, even without World Player of the Year in Ronaldo, the introduction of Isco as an extra midfielder added the balance that Ancelotti craved.

"If Bale plays or doesn't play, it will change their way of playing a little, but not ours," Barça midfielder Andrés Iniesta said on Thursday. 

"Madrid want to hit us on the counter-attack, whereas we want the ball because that minimises the danger."

However, with four gifted ball players in James Rodríguez, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco in midfield, Madrid may be able to turn the tables and use a greater share of possession to minimise the threat of Barcelona's star South American trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and, possibly, Luis Suárez, who is now available after being banned from football for biting an opponent at last summer’s World Cup.

Just like last season it has taken Madrid some time to find the right blend after another busy summer in the transfer market before hitting their stride.

Following their defeat to Barcelona last October, the European champions embarked upon a 31-game unbeaten run before Barça visited the Bernabéu in March.

Similarly early league defeats to Real Sociedad and reigning Liga champions Atlético Madrid have left Ancelotti's men with a lot of catching up to do on Luis Enrique's rejuvenated Barcelona this season. But the win over Liverpool was their eighth straight in all competitions.

That run has included 35 goals, but crucially Madrid's previously leaky defence has also shored up, conceding just once in their last five games.

"We are in good form and showing how strong we are," said captain Iker Casillas.

"Despite the injuries, those that have come in are doing well. That is how we must continue. We need to win, win and win again."

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