Bale aiming to satisfy hunger for Euro success after Real’s Welsh galactico greeted by 20,000
THE WORLD’S most expensive footballer Gareth Bale hopes a potent partnership with explosive forward Cristiano Ronaldo can lead to new club Real Madrid landing their 10th Champions League title.
Real supporters got the first glimpse of their new £85.3m “galactico” yesterday when 20,000 people poured into the Bernabeu for his official unveiling, after Bale had signed a six-year contract worth £300,000 per week.
The combination of Bale and Ronaldo, who scored a combined 82 goals for respective clubs and countries last season, in the same attack will strike fear into the hearts of defences around Europe.
And the 24-year-old believes they can end the club’s 12-year wait to win a record-breaking 10th Champions League title.
“It’s great to be here and I hope I can help the team win the 10th European Cup,” he said.
“Cristiano is the best player in the world. He’s a massive factor in why I wanted to come here. It comes no better than him and it will be an honour to play with him and we’ll have a great team and hopefully win a lot of things together.”
Real’s next match comes on 15 September away to Villarreal, with the possibility of Bale making his home debut the following weekend against Getafe.
However, the 24-year-old has not played since scoring in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against Swindon Town in their first pre-season friendly on 16 July having suffered with a foot injury.
Bale is in the Wales squad though, for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia and he hopes to be given the chance to build up some essential match fitness.
“I would like to play with Wales and hope to come back fitter than I am now,” he said.
“That will help my match fitness and my country as well. I just want to get started now.”
Meanwhile, Real president Florentino Perez has promised Bale he will be given all the support he needs to live up to his price tag.
The Welshman has said he would have moved “for a penny” with the world record fee paid by Real to Spurs “nothing to do with him”.
But Perez moved to reassure Bale that he will be given all the time required to make his “dream move” a success.
“You have come to the most demanding club in the world, but you will always have us at your side,” said Perez.
“The moment you dreamt of as a child starts now.”