Gareth Bale has been presented as a Real Madrid player after completing his record-breaking move from Tottenham.
But after over two months of speculation, gossip and negotiation, Real Madrid announced on Sunday that they had agreed a deal, thought to be worth a world record 100 million euros (£85.3million), with Tottenham for the 24-year-old star.
Bale arrived in Madrid on Monday and he will then sign a six-year contract, providing he passes his medical.
Then will come his official unveiling at the Bernabeu in front of what is expected to be a capacity 85,000 crowd. Madrid president Florentino Perez likes to put on a show, so the 'Bale box' has been hastily erected after its temporary deconstruction and the Welshman will be unveiled to the fans before he takes to the pitch where such greats as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Luis Figo used to ply their trade.
Hundreds of lenses will be trained on Bale. Every move he makes will be scrutinized, every word he utters will be analyzed. Although he had become a star in his own right at Tottenham, he will never have experienced anything like this before.
Bale certainly does not seem over-awed by the prospect of becoming the most expensive player in history, however. "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," Bale said.
"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."
Spurs and Madrid have clashed on several occasions throughout the summer. Tottenham were annoyed at the stage being erected two weeks ago and the idea of Bale shirts being sold on the Real Madrid website also. But the biggest gripe Levy had with Real was with their public flattery towards Bale, which he thinks unsettled the player.
"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," the Tottenham chairman said.
"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."
