Bale is the Real deal! Madrid move finally confirmed as Spanish giants announce £86m world-record signing of Spurs winger

Gareth Bale is a Real Madrid player after the Spanish giants agreed a deal with Tottenham.
The 24-year-old will undergo a medical before being showcased at the Bernabeu at 12.30pm UK time. A six-year deal was agreed between Bale and Real long ago.
Sportsmail understands that the fee is a world-record £86million, despite reports in Spain putting the figure at around £78million - less than Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
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On the move: Gareth Bale, out in London on Saturday, has finally completed his move to Real Madrid

Final shot: Bale is leaving Tottenham after featuring in just one pre-season friendly this campaign

Bale has been omitted from Andre Villas-Boas's squad this season after signalling his intent to join Real Madrid and after weeks of negotiations, the Spanish giants confirmed on their website they have got their man. 
The Spanish giants erected a stage on the pitch ahead of the transfer last week, hoping to announce the star's arrival, but were made to wait as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy played hardball.
It was claimed last week that Spurs were considering fining Bale for missing training, however as he thanked the club for his time at White Hart Lane he left with the best wishes of manager Andre Villas-Boas and chairman Levy.

Jumping for joy: Bale left White Hart Lane after scoring 55 goals in 203 matches for Spurs

The Welsh star expressed his thanks to Spurs, while admitting his excitement at leaving for Carlo Ancelotti's men.
In a statement on the club's official website, Bale said: 'I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye.

'We've had some special times together over the years and I've loved every minute of it.

'I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.

Villas-Boas: We move on from Gareth Bale

End of an era: Bale, who won the Player and Young Player of the Year last term, will leave Tottenham

Star man: But Andre Villas-Boas conceded defeat in his bid to keep Bale at White Hart Lane

'I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date.  I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams, but I can honestly say, this is my dream come true.
'I am well aware that I would not be at the level I am today were it not for firstly Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times and affording me the environment and support they have.
'Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure that this season will be a successful one for them.  I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid.'
Levy also released a statement on the club's official website, saying: 'Gareth was a player we had absolutely no intention of selling as we look to build for the future.
'He is a player whose career we have fostered and developed and he was only a year into his new four year contract.

Waiting in the wings: Bale hasn't featured for Tottenham this season after signalling his desire to leave

Making the leap: Bale turned out sporadically for Spurs in pre-season because of injury

'Such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.
'We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad to which we have added no fewer than seven top internationals. More importantly, we have an immense team spirit and a dressing room that is hungry for success.
'We wish Gareth all the best in the future and he shall always be welcome at the Lane.'

Big stage: Bale will join a host of world stars at Real Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo

All smiles: Bale will be managed by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who took over at Madrid this summer

Villas-Boas said: 'He is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best. The player is an absolutely wonderful player.
'He has left us with some great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes, but he has moved on and we will move on as well.'
Bale joins a long list of illustrious players to have made big-money moves to the Bernabeu.
Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been given the 'Galactico' moniker following their high-profile transfers to Real, but none of them have cost as much as Bale.

Off the peg: Madrid shirts with Bale's name and No 11 were available to buy before the deal was complete

Tottenham and Real have clashed several times during the transfer saga, which has brought the two clubs' partnership agreement into question.
First, Tottenham were unhappy with how several Real Madrid players spoke publicly about the possibility of Bale moving to the Bernabeu.
Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Isco were just three of the squad members to talk about the prospect of Bale becoming the latest star arrival, and manager Carlo Ancelotti also spoke openly about the player, much to Tottenham's annoyance.
The Spanish club then angered chairman Daniel Levy even further by selling Bale replica shirts on their website.

BALE'S BEST SPURS MOMENTS

INTER MILAN 4 TOTTENHAM 3 - Champions League (October 20, 2010)

Spurs looked set to be humiliated when holders Inter raced into a 4-0 lead inside 35 minutes through goals from Javier Zanetti, a Samuel Eto'o penalty - after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off - Dejan Stankovic and Eto'o again.
But Bale almost completed a sensational comeback single-handedly, scoring one of the goals of the season before netting twice in the closing seconds to burst onto the world stage.

TOTTENHAM 2 LYON 1 - Europa League (February 14, 2013)

Bale took a leaf from Cristiano Ronaldo's book with a 40-yard free-kick that flew over the wall and then dipped before beating Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre low to his right. And the Wales international secured a vital first-leg win with another piece of magic to score a second free-kick deep into the second half.

WEST HAM 2 TOTTENHAM 3 - Barclays Premier League (February 25, 2013)
Having put Spurs ahead with a low, driven finish early in the game, Bale looked set to be on the losing side as the Hammers hit back to take the lead. But despite being up-ended as Spurs chased a win following an equaliser, he picked himself up before rifling in an unstoppable shot with no time left on the clock for West Ham to respond.

TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 - Barclays Premier League (February 9, 2013)
After manager Andre Villas-Boas had talked up the similarities between Bale and Ronaldo during the week, Bale lived up to the hype with a 25-yard free-kick to open the scoring for the Londoners. And he then sealed the win with a superb break-away goal that ended with him slotting the ball between Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul's legs.

SWANSEA 1 TOTTENHAM 2 - Barclays Premier League (March 30, 2013)
Bale was described as "world class" by Villas-Boas and "exceptional" by opposite number Michael Laudrup after scoring one, setting up the other and then making a vital block in stoppage time to secure victory over Swansea.
With seven minutes on the clock he produced a delicate chip into the path of Jan Vertonghen who controlled before opening the scoring, and on 21 minutes made it 2-0 with a stunning strike with the outside of his left foot into the top corner. After Swansea had pulled one back, Bale came to the rescue in the dying moments by throwing his body in the way of Nathan Dyer's goal-bound shot.

GARETH BALE TIMELINE

1989: Born July 16 in Cardiff.
2005: Joins Southampton as a trainee.
2006: April 17 - Aged 16 years and 275 days, becomes second youngest footballer to play for Southampton in 2-0 Championship win against Millwall.
May - Makes Wales Under-21 debut against Cyprus. Quickly promoted to the senior squad for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, coming off the bench to become Wales' youngest full international at 16 years and 315 days.
July 16 - Signs first professional contract with Southampton on his 17th birthday.

August 6 - Scores first goal for Saints with free-kick on opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw at Derby.
September 5 - Makes first start for Wales in 2-0 defeat to Brazil.
October 7 - Becomes Wales' youngest goalscorer with a trademark free-kick in a 5-1 defeat to Slovakia.

2007: January - Bale's agent says he is happy to stay at Southampton despite Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly bidding £10million for the player. Both clubs admit their interest.
May 25 - Joins Tottenham.
August 26 - Makes his first-team debut for Tottenham in a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.
September 1 - Scores first Tottenham goal in away draw at Fulham.
September 15 - Scores in his first north London derby against Arsenal.
December 2 - Injury against Birmingham rules him out for the rest of the season.
2009: June - Undergoes knee surgery, ruling him out for the start of the 2009-10 Premier League campaign.

September 26 - Bale tastes victory as a Premier League player for the first time in 25 attempts in the 5-0 defeat of Burnley.
2010: January 26 - Secures first victory as a Premier League starter at the 23rd time of asking.
April - Scores in successive games against Arsenal and Chelsea to help Tottenham finish in the Premier League's top four. Named player of the month.
May - Signs new four-year deal for Tottenham.
August 25 - Sets up all four goals as Tottenham beat Young Boys 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying game to progress to the group stages.
October 20 - Scores a scintillating hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro. Named Welsh player of the year by the FAW.
November 2 - Produces man-of-the-match display as Tottenham beat Inter 3-1.

2011: January 28 - Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp rules out possibility of selling Bale, amid interest from Inter.
March 19 - Bale signs new four-and-a-half-year deal with Spurs.
April 17 - Named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.
2012: January - Named in the UEFA team of the year. Also named as Premier League player of the month for the second time.
June 27 - Signs new four-year contract with Spurs.
June 30 - Suffers a recurrence of an old back and hip injury after pulling up while running, ending his hopes of competing in the Olympics.

September 11 - Scores the first of his 29 goals in the season - a stunning free-kick for Wales against Serbia.
October 20 - Pulls out of Tottenham's game against Chelsea just before kick-off so he can attend the birth of his first child, Alba Violet Bale.
2013: February 7 - Manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham are likely to lose Bale in the summer unless they qualify for the Champions League.
February 25 - Scores a contender for goal of the season at West Ham - a stoppage-time winner from 30 yards.
April 27 - Villas-Boas says he has been told by Tottenham that Bale will stay if Spurs finish in the top four.
April 28 - Becomes only the third player to be voted senior and young Player of the Year at the PFA Awards.