adminLONDON. — Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claims the Spanish soccer club did not pay over the odds for Gareth Bale, despite the Welshman commanding a world-record fee.
The 24-year-old moved to Real from Tottenham earlier this month for 100 million euros (£85,3 million) after negotiations that lasted the entire summer transfer window.
Bale scored on his debut against Villarreal but missed his scheduled home debut against Getafe at the weekend due to injury.
However, Perez insists the club did not pay too much for Bale and said: “Bale has come cheaply.
“Signing the best players out there is Madrid’s philosophy and Bale was the best available player on the market this summer. We had been following him for two years.
“Tottenham did not want to sell. We learned that Manchester United had made an offer and we made one ourselves.”
Key to Bale’s switch to Madrid was the fact he would be fulfilling his boyhood dream, Perez saying: “Since childhood he had had the dream of playing for Real Madrid and he asked us to make it possible for him to come.”
Shortly after Bale’s move to the Bernabeu, Cristiano Ronaldo signed a three-year contract extension and stated he wished to finish his career with Real after a period when he was linked with a move away — and a possible return to Manchester United.
Perez said: “The renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract has been easy — he is determined to finish his career at Real Madrid.
“Cristiano never spoke of money with me.”
Of Mesut Ozil, who made a shock transfer to Arsenal at the very end of the transfer window, Perez added: “It was the father of the player who made contact with Arsenal.
“No one leaves Real Madrid if they don’t want to go.”
Perez has also defended his policy of signing the best players in the world for huge transfer fees by claiming they make the club money in the long run.
Perez is in his second term in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu and added to a stellar cast of signings under his guidance such as Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo with the capture of Bale earlier this month.
And whilst the 66-year-old construction magnate refused to clarify whether Madrid had paid 91 million euros for the Welshman reported by Spanish media, or what would be a record-breaking 101 million euros as suggested by the Press in England, Perez claimed Bale had, in fact, been a “cheap” signing.
“The signing was cheap,” Perez told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
“All the important players have been cheap for Real Madrid. That is why we lead the Forbes list.”
Indeed, American business magazine Forbes increased their valuation of Real Madrid following the Bale signing to US$3,4 billion to consolidate their place as the world’s most valuable sports entity.
“It was shown with Figo, Zidane, Beckham and Ronaldo. Even though they were very expensive, we went from losing money to making money.”
Madrid’s money-making potential under Perez’s two spells in charge has dramatically increased with revenue rising from just 85 million euros 15 years ago to 520,9 million euros for the 2012/13 season.
Real also recorded a significant rise in profit and cut their net debt last season despite ending the campaign empty-handed in terms of trophies.
Perez is hoping that Bale’s arrival will signal not only continued commercial success, but a return to winning ways on the field.
And he also claimed that the player shunned the advances of Manchester United to end up at the Bernabeu.
“Bale has twice been named the best player in the English Premier League, he was the image of the Premier League.
“I believe he is one of the best players in the world and Real Madrid have the model of buying the best.
“Tottenham did not want to sell him. It came to our attention that Manchester United had made an offer and we then made ours. Since he was young he has had the desire to play for Real Madrid and he asked we do everything possible for him to come.” — The Telegraph.
Online Reporter