Real Madrid paid Tottenham Hotspur a world-record transfer fee of £85 million in the summer of 2013 in order to secure the services of Gareth Bale. The move was completed on the final day of the transfer window and stunned the footballing world. Bale had established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League during his time at Spurs, and it was only a matter of time before Madrid came calling. However, the transfer fee of £85m was more than what Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2009, and the question was whether the Welshman would be able to live up to his price-tag.
