The world’s most expensive footballer with the less than lavish lifestyle: Gareth Bale signs record £86m deal… but still prefers a family meal to clubbing

• Madrid confirm Bale has joined – ending the big saga of the summer
• The fee is a world record £86m – beating the £80m Real paid for Ronaldo
• But Wales winger Bale is said to be a man of less than lavish tastes
• He is said to prefer nights in with his family than going out clubbing
  

By AMANDA WILLIAMS and STUART WOLEDGE

PUBLISHED: 04:53, 2 September 2013 | UPDATED: 12:12, 2 September 2013

Gareth Bale flew to Madrid this morning where he passed a medical and will now put pen to paper and seal his record breaking £85.3 million contract that will earn him a massive £256,000 a week.

The softly spoken Welshman will then get his first taste of life at the Bernabeu when he is officially unveiled at 12noon in front of an 85,000 capacity crowd.

Earlier today, the 24-year-old said: ‘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.’

 

 

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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez likes to put on a show, so the ‘Bale box’ has been hastily erected after its temporary deconstruction.

The Welsh wizard 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 the soon-to-be former Tottenham start, and it is fair to say 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.

He may have broken all records with his move to the Spanish giant, Gareth Bale is a man of less than lavish tastes and the quietly spoken father-of-one does not appear to have the thirst for the luxury trappings that his huge salary could afford him.

 

Instead, the 24-year-old winger prefers to ‘enjoy a meal with his family’  – more likely than not at his favourite chain restaurant Nando’s – than a night out clubbing.

He claims to have no celebrity phone numbers in his address book, and that he rarely receives female attention as he ‘rarely goes out’, The Times reports.

Bale is in a long term relationship with his childhood sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones, who he met at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff

The couple have an 11-month-old daughter called Alba Violet Bale – tribute to his now former manager Andre Villas-Boas – who was born in University Hospital of Wales last October.

The love heart celebration he makes with his hands after scoring is a tribute to Rhys-Jones.

 

Bale was born in Cardiff in 1983 to parents Frank, a caretaker, and Debbie, an operations manager.

While at school, his PE teacher Gwyn Morris made him play one-touch football against the other boys using only his weaker foot to improve his game.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live this morning, Mr Morris said: ‘There’s no template for players of his ability now, it takes a lot of dedication , attitude and commitment to achieve what Gareth’s done and he certainly had those attributes.

‘I’m so pleased he’s achieving his dream. He had tremendous athleticism, and the best part about it is he played all sports.’

He said: ‘You obviously buy the cars you like but it’s not a long career. The most important thing is not to waste your money.’

His apparent shunning of the lavish lifestyle preferred by many superstar footballers is in stark contrast to that of his new teammate – and formerly the world’s most expensive player – Cristiano Ronaldo, who was signed for £80m in 2009.

Ronaldo, who has a supermodel partner, has dabbled in modelling and is often pictured enjoying the high life aboard a luxury yacht.

The only slight nod to vanity that Bale has made is reportedly having an operation to pin back his ears – and finally allow him to try a shorter hair cut.

He reportedly does now drive a Porsche – a sign that he is maybe beginning to embrace a more ‘traditional footballer’s lifestyle’.

On the move: Gareth Bale, on a rare night out in London on Saturday, has finally completed his move to Real Madrid

But the man who once took his washing home to his mother when his own machine broke down, appears to still have the humility which has earned him a legion of fans.

Upon arriving in Madrid late on Sunday night, he said: ‘I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.

‘I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. 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.

‘I would not be at the level I am today were it not for Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times. Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure this will be a successful season for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life.’

He added on the club website: ‘‘I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it’s the right time to say goodbye. We’ve had some special times together over the years and I’ve loved every minute of it.

‘I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.’

Real erected a stage on the pitch ahead of the transfer last week, hoping to announce the star’s arrival, but were made to wait as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy played hardball. Bale will be unveiled at midday UK time.

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2408648/Gareth-Bale-signs-record-86m-deal-Real-Madrid-prefers-family-meal-clubbing.html#ixzz2djWSTAy4

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