Gareth Bale signs £300,000 A WEEK

Gareth Bale and his girlfriend Emma Rhys-Jones

Things finally got very Real for Gareth Bale today after he became the most expensive footballer in the world by signing a golden deal worth £176million.

Spanish giants Real Madrid agreed to the wallet-busting £86.3million transfer fee, which sees the 24-year-old ace wave goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur.

And the Welsh wonder will personally net £90million over the next six years – which works out at an eye-watering £300,000 per week.

The historic deal, which had been percolating all summer, could see Bale become one of the world’s richest players as sponsorship deals flood in for the midfielder.

He still has a way to go to catch Lionel Messi who, at 26, is the world’s best-paid footballer pocketing £27.4million last year from wages, bonuses, sponsorships and endorsements.

Bale’s new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, secured £24million in the same year, while unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 27, was the Premier League’s top earner with £17million.

Former Southampton star Bale is expected to be paraded at Real’s 85,000-seater stadium, the Bernabeu, around noon tomorrow – before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm.

In a statement on the Spurs website, Bale said: “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, players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing 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.

 Mirror

“Tottenham will always be in my heart and I’m sure that this season will be a successful one for them.

“I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Real Madrid.”