If you follow football, I feel like we've been talking about this for about six months, but it's finally happened. Tottenham's crown jewel, Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale has officially completed his move to Real Madrid.
And it was worth quite the shiny nickel. Six years, 100 million euros, which comes out to $132 million. It's a world record deal, breaking the one set by none other than Madrid when they bought Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in 2009. That deal was worth 93 million euros.
Bale scored 21 goals last season, third best in the Premiership with a Tottenham side that finished fifth in the league, good enough for the Europa League. But Spurs hasn't been in the Champions League for the last two seasons, and the promise of that, plus the boat-load of cash was more than enough to lure Bale to Real Madrid, nine times Champions League winners.
So let's think this through and take a look at what Real Madrid's starting 11 could look like.
Forward:
Karim Benzema
Wingers:
Midfield:
Xabi Alonso Mesut Ozil Isco
Defenders:
Marcelo Pepe Sergio Ramos
Daniel Carvajal
Goalkeeper:
Iker Casillas
This team is scary on paper. Not always the case, but I can't wait to watch El Clasico with this team against what looks to be the back to normal Barcelona. While it will be a two horse race for La Liga like it always is, the Champions League group stage at least should be a breeze for Los Blancos:
Group A Group B Group C
Manchester United Real Madrid PSG
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) Juventus Benfica
Bayer Leverkusen Galatasaray (Turkey) Olympiakos
Real Sociedad Copenhagen Anderlecht
Group D Group E Group F (Group of Death)
Bayern Munich Chelsea Arsenal
CSKA Moscow Schalke Marseille
Manchester City Basel Borussia Dortmund
Viktoria Plzen Steau Bucharest Napoli
Group G Group H
Porto Barcelona
Atletico Madrid Milan
Zenit St. Petersburg Ajax
Austria Vienna Celtic
There is Italian champions Juventus waiting in Real Madrid's group which might pose as its largest challenge, but Galatasaray, even with Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder won't be enough. Copenhagen looks to be the squad everyone beats up on this year.
Gareth Bale has a knack for the big stage, too. Imagine how he'll perform when all eyes are on him all the time. Say what you want and how he was always a hot ticket at Tottenham, but there's pressure in Madrid with a tradition of winning. He's going to have to deliver. Whatever might happen, it will be fun to watch, I can tell you that much.
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