In Pictures: Gareth Bale

The 24-year-old Welsh winger became part of the summer’s longest transfer soap opera before finally transferring from Tottenham for a reported world record fee of $133m [AFP]

Tottenham had been desperately trying to hold on to Bale at all costs, but essentially the winger was a Champions League player in a Europa League team, with his mind set on joining the nine-time European champions [EPA]

Sunday’s transfer is a far cry from Bale’s humble beginnings.Tottenham paid £10 million pounds in 2007 to sign Bale from Southampton and was initially viewed as somewhat of an unlucky charm, after failing to appear on the winning side in his first 24 matches [GETTY]

Then Spurs manager Harry Redknapp switched Bale from left-back to a more attacking role on the wing and he began to blossom, signalling his class with two stunning performances against Inter Milan in 2010 [GETTY]

A hat-trick in the San Siro was followed by a demolition job in Inter’s Maicon, who was then considered the world’s best right-back, prompting chants of ‘Taxi for Maicon’ from the White Hart Lane crowd [GETTY]

With limited experience in the Champions League, that price tag leaves the young player with plenty to prove. He’ll need to adjust to a new league and fit in with a host of galacticos. Watch this space [AFP]