A document revealing the true cost of Gareth Bale’s transfer to Real Madrid has been leaked, suggesting the Welshman did cost more than Cristiano Ronaldo.
There have been discrepancies in the reporting of the figure that saw Bale make the move from Tottenham to the Spanish capital in 2013 and while the Premier League side have always maintained it was a world record sum, Madrid haven’t been as forthcoming.
Real have always claimed they paid €91.59m (£70.8m) to sign Bale, which is slightly lower than the €96m (£74m) they paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009.
However, according to Spanish paper AS, a document has been leaked and showing the true cost of the Bale deal actually eclipsed the €100m (£77m), which would suggest Madrid were keen on the lower price tag in order to massage Ronaldo’s ego.
The news has reportedly caused panic at the club and left Bale’s representatives furious to how the document was leaked into the public eye.
The Welshman, who is currently out for three weeks with a calf injury, has received mixed receptions from fans in Madrid since his arrival, despite his evident success on the pitch.
In Bale’s three campaigns at the club, he has played a direct part in 70 goals (41 goals + 29 assists) in 73 league appearances, compared to Ronaldo, who has played a direct part in 127 goals in 85 league matches.
For more stats on Gareth Bale, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
