- .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
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.'
Record breaker: Gareth Bale is in the process of having a medical ahead of his official unveiling that is due to take place in front of a capacity crowd at the Bernabeu at midday
New arrival: Bale arrived in Madrid this morning for his medical. He is about to be unveiled at the Bernabeu
Packed: The Bernabeu stadium is expected to be close to its 85,000 capacity as fans gather get their first glimpse of Bale in a Real Madrid shirt
He may have broken all records with his £86million move to Real Madrid, but Gareth Bale (pictured with childhood sweetheart and girlfriend Emma Rhys-Jones) prefers to spend time with his family than a luxury lifestyle
He's here: Real Madrid's new recruit Gareth Bale poses with fans after arriving at Barajas Airport
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.
Family man: Gareth Bale with his childhood sweetheart, Emma Rhys Jones, and their baby
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.
She is said to still live in Cardiff with their Alba Violet.
The love heart celebration he makes with his hands after scoring is a tribute to Rhys-Jones.
Dedication: Bale named his baby Alba Violet Bale (AVB) in tribute to his former manager Andre Villas-Boas
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.'
Humble beginnings: Gareth Bale's parents modest 3 bedroom semi detached house (left) in Cardiff, where the superstar in the making grew up
Bill Tout, 82, still lives next door to Bale's parents.
He said: 'Hardly a day went by that Gareth wasn't kicking a ball around in his garden - and most of the balls landed in mine.
'I used to call him all the names under the sun especially when one night he kicked the ball 14 times into my garden.
'But I threw them back every time so he could keep playing.'
It is perhaps this relatively humble upbringing which set the tone for his sensible attitude to money. In an interview with the Sun in 2010, he said his impending rise to stardom was unlikely to change him.
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.
End of an era: Bale, who won the Player and Young Player of the Year last term, will leave Tottenham
Star man: But Bale - officially the world's most expensive player - is a man of less than lavish tastes.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, known as one of the toughest negotiators in the game, was reluctant to lose his star man and played hardball right until the end.
But he sent Bale on his way with his best wishes.
Levy said: 'We had no intention of selling Gareth. But such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.
'We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad to which we have added no fewer than seven top internationals. More importantly, we have an immense team spirit and a dressing room that is hungry for success.
'We wish Gareth all the best in the future and he shall always be welcome at the Lane.'
Villas-Boas said: 'He is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best. The player is an absolutely wonderful player.
'He has left us with some great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes, but he has moved on and we will move on as well.'
Bale joins a long list of illustrious players to have made big-money moves to the Bernabeu. Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been given the 'Galactico' moniker following their high-profile transfers to Real, but none of them have cost as much as Bale.
Big stage: Bale will join a host of world stars at Real Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo
All smiles: Bale will be managed by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who took over at Madrid this summe
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