Gareth Bale insists he will not be overcome by the pressure of his huge price tag after being officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player in front of 20,000 fans on Monday.
Bale’s protracted transfer from Tottenham Hotspur was finally completed on Sunday evening, with contrasting reports over whether he had become the most expensive player in the history of the game.
English media reported Bale’s transfer had broken the record Real paid for Cristiano Ronaldo four years ago at 101 million euros ($133.5 million, £86 million), while in Spain reports citing Real Madrid sources said the deal was concluded for 91 million euros, three million less than the sum paid for Ronaldo.
Bale refused to clarify the situation, saying he was more focused on living up to the standards he sets himself on the pitch.
“I wanted to come here even if it was for a penny,” he told a packed press conference.
“I don’t think any player really knows their price tag. It is something between the two clubs and not really my place to say.
“The pressure is just as much pressure as I put on myself. I have come here to play the best football I can and I’m going to give 100 per cent and try to help the team to win things.”
There has been fevered conjecture over how Ronaldo and Bale will co-exist both on and off the field. However,the Welshman reiterated his belief that it is the Portuguese who remains the better player and more senior figure at the club. “Ronaldo is the boss here, he’s the main player and the best player in the world so I want to learn off him.
“It will be an honour to play with him. I think we’ll have a great team and I hope we win a lot of trophies together.”
Bale short of fitness, says Wales coach
Wales manager Chris Coleman said that Real Madrid new boy Bale cannot play for 90 minutes in the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia.
Bale flew to the Welsh capital Cardiff on Monday evening after being presented to Madrid fans at the Bernabeu earlier in the day following his move from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around £80 million ($124 million, 94 million euros).
Bale said he wanted to use the time with Wales in order to build up his fitness, but as he has not played since July, Coleman plans to handle him with care. “If he is not ready we will not risk him, regardless of whether it is a world-record fee,” Coleman said in Cardiff.
“We are aware a lot of people will want to see him play in the
home game against Serbia. But he has no chance of playing 90 minutes on Friday or on Tuesday.” Wales play Macedonia in Skopje in European qualifying Group A on Friday. — AFP