Best five players to leave Tottenham in last decade
By Gary Pearson
2. Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale reached superstar status before the sun set on his first stint at Tottenham. The match winner turned countless games on its head by a stroke of genius or an immense performance. He single handedly tossed the team on his back, concurrently putting the football world on notice.
Everyone in the football world knew he would dominate at an elite level for a number of years, which he did once arriving in Madrid. Bale won four Champions League trophies in a five-year span and has won more individual medals than he knows what do with.
His return to Hotspur Way before last season was met with feverish anticipation. While some will say he didn’t live up to expectations, Bale scored more goals per minute than any other player in the elite leagues across Europe.
Madrid purchased Bale in 2013 for a then-world-record-fee of £85 million. It turned out to be a bargain for Los Blancos, who can thank Bale for his invaluable contribution. The Welshman is partly responsible for turning Real Madrid, from 2013 through 2018, into an imperious dynasty.