New Real Madrid signing Gareth Bale has said the chance to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo was a major factor in his decision to make the switch from Tottenham Hotspur.
The 24-year-old Welshman was presented to Los Blancos fans at the Santiago Bernabeu after completing his medical and putting pen-to-paper on a six-year deal that will see him earn around 190,000 euros a week.
Speaking to the media after his introduction, Bale revealed he will leave free-kick taking and penalty taking decision for Ronaldo.
“For me Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world. His presence played a big part in my decision to join Madrid. It will be an honour to play alongside him,” he told gathered reporters.
“What about penalties and free-kicks? Ronaldo is the boss here at Madrid. Let’s see what he says. I don’t need to help Ronaldo to be the best in the world – he has already shown it,” he added.
The PFA Player of the Year also said he is not worried about the price tag. The UK media suggested Los Blancos have paid 100 million euros – making him the most expensive player in the world – while the Spanish press say the figure was more like 91 million euros, meaning Ronaldo still has the record.
Bale stated: “The transfer fee is not something that affects me. It’s something between Madrid and Spurs. It only brings extra pressure if I want it to.
“The biggest pressure here is to help Madrid win trophies. I want to win silverware here and help the club win the Champions League.”
