Bale Real’s €99 million man

Gareth Bale’s spectacular world record €99 million (£85m) move to Real Madrid from Tottenham will be officially announced today.

There was glee at the finalising of the deal among Real Madrid fans attending last night’s ‘Trofeo Bernabeu’ exhibition game, an homage to former striker Raul Gonzalez, while the club’s adidas-run online shop had ‘accidentally’ already begun selling number 11 ‘Bale’ shirts.

But Blancos supporters still had concerns about the huge fee agreed by Madrid president Florentino Perez, and just how coach Carlo Ancelotti will fit Madrid’s latest ‘galactico’ into an already star-studded midfield and attack.