Madrid move a dream come true: Bale

Welshman <br /> becomes the most expensive transfer <br /> at €101 million.

MADRID: Gareth Bale hailed his move to Real Madrid as a ‘dream come true’ as he was officially unveiled in front of 20,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday.

Bale’s prolonged transfer from Tottenham Hotspur was finally completed with reports in England suggesting the Welshman had become the most expensive player of all time at €101 million. And the 24-year-old has already targeted winning the Champions League this season as his main goal.

“It is a dream come true for me to play for Real Madrid,” said Bale. “I hope to help the team have success and win their 10th European Cup this year.”

Bale then took to the pitch at the Bernabeu for the first time in his new Real kit to perform a series of tricks and to kick balls into the stands for the adoring fans.

“Gareth you are going to help us to make the legend of this club even greater and stronger,” said Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. “This is your stadium, your shirt, your badge and your fans. From today this is your home.”

The 24-year-old arrived in the Spanish capital on Sunday night before undergoing a medical yesterday morning, which he passed without any problems despite not having played since mid-July due to an apparent foot injury.

Kaka completes AC Milan return

Brazilian midfielder Kaka has completed a return to AC Milan on a two-year contract after the Serie A side agreed a deal with Real Madrid, the Italian club confirmed yesterday.

“Done deal”, Milan’s managing director Adriano Galliani announced on the club’s website. According to the Italian press, Real allowed the 31-year-old to return to his former club on a free transfer, having paid €65 million to bring Kaka to Madrid in 2009.

“I’m very happy, the talks took a long time,” said Kaka. “I want to thank the fans and my teammates for their support.”

Milan’s push to bolster their squad before the transfer deadline comes days after they qualified for the group stages of the Champions League.

Liverpool complete deadline day treble

In other transfers deals, Premier League leaders Liverpool kick-started yesterday’s transfer deadline day in England by making three signings.

France international Mamadou Sakho and Portuguese centre-back Tiago Ilori arrived at Anfield on permanent deals while Nigeria striker Victor Moses was signed from Premier League rivals Chelsea on a season-long loan. Their arrival at northwest side Liverpool meant Reds manager Brendan Rodgers had now signed eight players during the transfer window.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid defender Martin Demichelis joined Manchester City on a two year contract, announced the Premier League side.

The 32-year-old Argentina international is renewing his ties with City’s Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini, the pair having worked together at both River Plate and Malaga.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2013.

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