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LONDON – Gareth Bale completed his return to Tottenham Hotspur on a one-season loan deal from Real Madrid, Spurs announced on Saturday.
However, the Welsh forward will not be in a position to make his second debut for the club until the end of October due to injury.
“We are delighted to announce the return of Gareth Bale to the club on a one-season loan from Real Madrid,” Tottenham said in a statement.
“Gareth suffered a knee injury while playing for Wales in international service earlier this month and this, coupled with the subsequent start of La Liga compared to the Premier League, means that he has had a limited preseason.
“We currently anticipate that he will be in shape after the international break in October.”
Tottenham’s first game after next month’s international break is at Burnley on October 24.
READ: Zidane: Bale didn’t want to play
Bale, 31, won four Champions League and two La Liga titles with Madrid after moving in for a world record fee of £ 85 million (today $ 110 million, € 93 million) in 2013.
However, he had fallen out of favor with the Spanish champions in the past two seasons since Zinedine Zidane’s return as manager.
The former Southampton winger made just two appearances for Madrid following the return of football from halftime triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and did not even travel for Madrid’s Champions League exit to Manchester City in June.
“Our club wishes good luck to a player who has been part of one of the most successful stages in our history,” Madrid said in a statement.
By contrast, at Tottenham, he is still remembered as one of the club’s all-time greats.
Bale twice won the Premier League Player of the Year award during his first stint as a team, in which he scored 56 goals in 203 appearances and lured Madrid into paying a record price for his services.
Tottenham will reportedly pay half of Bale’s massive € 30 million salary for the season, with Madrid still hooked for the rest.
He will wear jersey number nine and form an exciting front-three with England captain Harry Kane and South Korean Son Heung-min.
“To all you Spurs fans, after 7 years, I’m back!” Bale tweeted.
READ: Spurs reverses plans to lay off non-playing staff
Spurs are in dire need of a boost after failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in five years last season and starting their new Premier League campaign with a disheartening 1-0 loss at home to Everton.
Spain Sergio Reguilón has also moved permanently from Madrid to Tottenham for around 30 million euros.
Reguilon is heading to London after starring while on loan from Europa League champions Sevilla last season.
However, Madrid will reportedly maintain a buyback option on the 23-year-old for the next two seasons.
Manchester United were also interested in Reguilon, who played in the Europa League semi-final 2-1 over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men last month, but was less open to Madrid’s requirement for a buy-back clause.
After an impressive start to his Madrid career with former coaches Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, Zidane’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu saw Reguilon fall into the hierarchical order as veteran vice captain Marcelo regained his place before the giants Spaniards will spend 48 million euros on Ferland Mendy. last year.
However, Reguilón, who made his debut for Spain earlier this month, is still highly regarded in Madrid, so they sought a deal to be able to bring him back to the club once Marcelo, 32, leaves.
