IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK!
WALES STAR’S DELIGHT AT RETURN TO PREMIER LEAGUE:
GARETH BALE says it’s ‘incredible to be back’ at Tottenham after completing his season-long loan from Real Madrid. The 31-year-old returns to Spurs seven years after he moved in the opposite direction in a then worldrecord transfer.
Spurs have moved quickly over the last couple of days to tie the deal up, with the Wales international flying into London on Friday morning, and he is seen as a marquee addition to Jose Mourinho’s squad.
Bale, who will wear the number nine shirt, said in an interview posted on Tottenham’s Twitter feed: “It’s nice to be back. It’s such a special club to me. It’s where I made my name and what an amazing club, amazing fans.
“It’s just incredible to be back and hopefully now I can get some match fitness and get under way and really help the team, and hopefully win trophies.”
“I always thought when I did leave that one day I would love to come back. The opportunity now has arisen and I feel like it’s a good fit.
“I feel like it’s a good time for me. I’m hungry, I’m motivated, I want to do well for the team and I can’t wait to get started.”
Bale believes he can bring a “winning mentality” to a team that has not won a trophy since 2008.
“I think by going to Madrid, winning trophies and going far with the national team I feel like I have that kind of winning mentality, how to win trophies,” Bale said.
“You don’t realise it until you’re there and in those situations, in finals, know how to kind of deal with the situation, the nerves, the pressure, and I think that all goes with experience.
“Hopefully I can bring that to the dressing room, bring a bit more belief to everybody that we can win a trophy, and the target is to do that this season, to be fighting on every front possible. I want to bring that mentality here, back to Tottenham.
“It’s an exciting time for everybody here, the club continues to progress every year and I want to contribute to that again and try to get us to the next level, which is winning a trophy.
“It’s such an important thing for this club, to win trophies. As players, we want to win trophies in our careers, and to be doing it at Tottenham now would be a dream come true.”
it is an emotional return to Spurs for Bale, who made 203 appearances for them between 2007 and 2013.
The club confirmed he would not be match fit until after October’s international break, having sustained a knee injury while on international duty earlier this month.
Spurs said in a statement: “Gareth sustained a knee injury whilst playing for Wales on international duty earlier this month and this together with La Liga’s later start compared to the Premier League means he has had a limited pre-season.
“We currently anticipate that he will be match fit after October’s international break.”
Ryan Giggs’ Wales side have three games coming up in the next month.
They face England in a friendly at Wembley on October 8, before a UEFA Nations League double header away to Republic of Ireland on October 11 and Bulgaria on October 14.
Left-back Sergio Reguilon has also made the move from Madrid to north London, sealing a permanent transfer.
The Spaniard, who spent last season on loan at Europa League winners Sevilla, has signed a five-year contract at Spurs. Madrid have inserted a buy-back clause into the deal.