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In 2013, everyone knew who the third best player in the world was. Gareth Bale was coming off a career season with Tottenham and was just about to turn 24, attracting interest from every big club in Europe. With outstanding pace, strength, and a vicious shot from range, Bale was regarded as the closest thing to Cristiano Ronaldo in world football, and Real Madrid paid a then world record €100m fee to pair the Welshman and the Portuguese in a new-look attack, which would go on to deliver the club’s 10th Champions League title that season and a further 3 over the next 5 years.

But despite his enormous trophy cabinet, Bale’s career in Madrid is widely considered a disappointment. Unloved by coach and fans, the winger has been a bit-part player for years and perennially linked with a move away which never quite arrives. But how did the most exciting player in the world become surplus to requirements? And why didn’t the Real faithful ever fall for a man who had been so easy to love at White Hart Lane?

Hello and welcome to Everything You Need To Know, the new series where we give you the story behind some of football’s defining moments, and today we bring you the story of Gareth Bale.


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