Real forced to sell to offset €100m fee

Madrid had to wait all summer for its B day, but Monday’s presentation ceremony at the Estadio Santiago was a cracker — for a couple of reasons.

The Spanish capital woke to read that Gareth Bale’s potentially world record transfer from Tottenham was completed, with Marca publishing photographic proof that ‘the Prince of Wales’ had flown to the city by private jet overnight to complete the deal.

The now famous Bernabeu stage — which had been put up, taken down, then reassembled again in recent days — was ready for the lunchtime presentation ceremony.