Bale not the world’s most expensive player after all as Real reveal actual fee

By Eurosport

Gareth Bale's start to life at Real Madrid has already been beset by problems: he's already had to deal with bitterness at his transfer fee, niggling injuries, poor form, criticism from fans and the media and allegations by a prominent doctor in Spain suggesting that Real had wasted their money on an "injury-prone" dud.
And now, despite persistent reports that he was the world's most expensive-ever player, it turns out that he was bought for less than clubmate Cristiano Ronaldo.
The confirmation came as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told Spanish TV station Intereconomia that Bale was insured for his full purchase price of €91 million, thus reassuring fans that the club's finances would not be harmed should the Welshman's injury problems prove career threatening.
It was the first confirmation from either Real Madrid or Tottenham about the actual fee paid - and assuming that the information is correct, it means that Bale cost £77 million, rather than the £86 million originally reported, and £3m less than Real paid for Ronaldo in 2009.
Real had previously hinted that they'd paid less for Bale than they had for Ronaldo, and Spanish media reports had consistently claimed that the final deal was for the lower figure.
But British media had stuck to its guns on the €100m/£86m figure - though it's possible that the deal includes performance-based add-ons which could add account for missing millions.
The likelihood is that Tottenham would have included any such extra in the figures they leaked to the press, in order to persuade fans that they drove a hard bargain for their best player - while Real will no doubt underplay any such add-ons to convince their fans that it was the Spanish giants who got the better of the deal.
Perez also used the interview to deny reports that Bale was suffering from a herniated disc in his spine, explaining that his issue was instead just a slightly bulging disc, a common affliction shared by many sportsmen that in no way impacts on their ability or fitness.
And the Real chief added that Bale has been left frustrated by the thigh injury that has blighted his time at his new club, and is simply desperate to get out on the pitch and prove himself.
"It's too cruel what happened, honestly," said Perez. "He wants to play on Saturday and show that everything that's been said about him is all smoke without fire."
And ironically, the revelation about Bale's fee could prove beneficial: no doubt the fact that he's lost his tag as the world's most expensive player will reduce the pressure on him slightly, while team-mate Ronaldo will no doubt have an extra spring in his step after reclaiming the title he thought he'd lost.