Pro Sports

Bale back at 'special club' Tottenham to reignite career

Posted September 19, 2020 7:00 am

By STEVE DOUGLAS

Soccer player Gareth Bale gestures to fans as he arrives at the training ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London, Friday Sept. 18, 2020. Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale is in London to complete his return to Tottenham. Bale left Tottenham for Madrid in 2013 for 100 million euros. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Seven years after leaving for a world-record fee to Real Madrid, Gareth Bale is back at Tottenham in a bid to reignite his career.

He has brought a teammate with him, too.

Tottenham confirmed the season-long loan signing of Bale on Saturday in one of the most high-profile moves of the transfer window, minutes after announcing left back Sergio ReguilÃ³n is also joining from the Spanish champions.

'œIt's such a special club to me,'ť the 31-year-old Bale said of Spurs, 'œit's where I made my name.'ť

It was his dazzling displays for the London club that earned Bale the move to Madrid in 2013 for 100 million euros (then $132 million), a world-leading fee at the time.

Bale won four Champions League titles and two La Liga titles at Madrid but struggled for game time in recent seasons. Bale is seeking to rediscover his motivation for the game under manager Jose Mourinho at Tottenham, where he is set to form an exciting-looking forward line with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

Tottenham is without a piece of major silverware since 2008 and the winger, who also helped Wales reach the semifinals of Euro 2016, believes he can help to end that drought.

'œBy going to Madrid, winning trophies and going far with the national team, I feel like I have that winning mentality,'ť Bale said. 'œYou don't realize until you are there. In those situations, the nerves, the pressure, I think that all goes with experience. Hopefully I can bring that to the dressing room, bring that belief that we can win a trophy.'ť

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane did not even use Bale in the final eight games of the last campaign and the club's fans grew frustrated with him, despite his knack of scoring incredible goals in big games - including in two Champions League finals.

Zidane said Saturday that he had no hard feelings for Bale.

'œI've never had any problems with Bale and never has he been a pain,'ť Zidane said. 'œHe's done excellently in terms of what he's achieved here and there should be no discussion about that. He's won a lot of trophies at Real Madrid.'ť

Tottenham said it does not expect Bale to be match fit until after the international break in October after he hurt his knee playing for Wales this month.

'œThis, together with La Liga's later start compared to the Premier League, means he has had a limited pre-season,'ť Tottenham said.

ReguilÃ³n, a 23-year-old left back, has joined Tottenham permanently on a contract through 2025. ReguilÃ³n, who made his Spain debut in the Nations League this month, won the Europa League in August while on loan at Sevilla.

ReguilÃ³n and Bale join a Tottenham side trying to return to the Champions League after failing to qualify for this season's competition because of a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.

Tottenham opened the new season with a loss to Everton and is currently having to go through qualifying to make the Europa League group stage.

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Fans cheers as soccer player Gareth Bale arrives at the training ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London, Friday Sept. 18, 2020. Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale is in London to complete his return to Tottenham. Bale left Tottenham for Madrid in 2013 for 100 million euros. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 23, 2011 file photo Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale controls the ball during their English Premier League soccer match against Aston Villa at the White Hart Lane stadium in London. (AP Photo/Bogdan Maran, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, May 26, 2018 file photo Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, May 26, 2018 file photo Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, left, scores his side's 2nd goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File) The Associated Press

Spain's Sergio Reguilon attempts to control the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Spain and Ukraine at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) The Associated Press

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