Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Los Blancos teammate Gareth Bale apparently cost the club more than Ronaldo if the Welshman’s insurance fee is taken into account.
While Ronaldo arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from Manchester United in the summer of 2009 on a reported world-record £83 million. Bale followed suit from Tottenham Hotspur four years later in a move that’s said to be worth £78 million. However, the now-retired Welsh winger, as per Mirror (via Sport Bible), cost Los Blancos more than Ronaldo.
Club president Florentino Perez, in 2016, had proclaimed that Ronaldo had cost the club more than Bale. However, as per Football Leaks, as per 2013 exchange rates, Bale’s transfer value was £85 million, paid in four instalments. The Welshman’s insured fee was £78 million, with Perez reported to have said:
While Bale didn’t enjoy the kind of success Ronaldo (450) did – in terms of goals – the Welshman netted 106 times in 258 appearances across competitions, winning five UEFA Champions League and three La Liga titles. He netted a few memorable goals, like the overhead kick in the 3-1 2018 Champions League final win over Liverpool.
The Welshman – who left the Bernabeu in 2022 – talked fondly about his stint despite struggling for game time late on in his stint:
Bale hung up his boots after a stint with MLS side Los Angeles FC, while Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a successful five-season spell together for Real Madrid, winning four UEFA Champions League – three in succession – and one La Liga title.
In 157 games across competitions – when both men were together on the pitch at the same time – the duo registered 41 joint goal contributions (as per Transfermarkt). Thirty-two of those goals were scored by Ronaldo – assisted by Bale – who was assisted by the Portuguese nine times.
Their last joint goal contribution for Real Madrid came against Atletico Madrid in 2017-18 La Liga, with Cristiano Ronaldo opening the scoring in the second half, assisted by Bale.
Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.
Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.
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