Bale price set at €159 million.

[oldironside]

Gareth Bale’s price tag was labelled disrespectful yesterday by Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino amid confusion over whether or not it would be a world record fee.

Madrid are poised to spend close to €100m on the Tottenham forward and Martino said: “Bale is a good player but the numbers that are being talked about; it is a lack of respect for the world we live in.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/transfer-news-barcelona-coach-gerardo-martino-labels-gareth-bale-total-fee-disrespectful-ahead-of-159m-real-madrid-move-8783407.html

The Spanish economy is in the sewer, the unemployment rate is over 25%, and Spanish football is €4,100 million in debt. Oh, and Real are nearly €600 in the red. As one of the posters put it, this is financial pornography.

[Ron Obvious]

1. Insanity

Aside from the financial madness, just imagine if he would go for, say, even 100 million or so. I could easily see him being crushed under the weight of having to live up to the expectations that would accompany a sum like that. It happened to Torres.

Bale strikes me as quiet and fairly modest (like Torres) and it wouldn't take too many bad games before the Spanish-equivalent chants of "what a waste of money!" would start ringing out. Proving yourself with that dressing room of egos and prima donnas wouldn't help.

I can understand the lure of money, but I would advise him strongly against going there. He's just not good enough to justify a sum like that.

[sensenig]

2. Price war

This price is pricey it. But Tottenham Hotspur's senior still feel the price is low, now is one hundred million asking price for the unit, do not know will not be able to reach agreement. Summer transfer window is about to shut down.

[Aquavit]

3. What a mockery of Financial Fair Play!

Oh well, it'll be a real hoot watching Bale and Ronaldo never, ever pass to each other. If Madrid is going to go stupid with the money this summer, I hope they get Suarez as well!

[oldironside]

4. The word's most expensive team...

... of sulky eleven year olds.

I wonder how long it will be before Ronaldo takes his ball home.

[T_i_B]

5. It was EUR 100 Million for Bale in the end

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23538218

Real Madrid have broken the world transfer record to sign Tottenham forward Gareth Bale.

The Wales star has agreed a £300,000 per week, six-year deal after sealing an £85.3m (100m euros) move which eclipses the £80m Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

[oldironside]

6. Well, good luck to him.

However, good player that he is, he ain't worth that.

On the plus side, with him gone and Spurs wasting the money on mediocre replacements they're going to fall so fast that the average Tottenham fan is going to need to trade his replica shirt in for a parachute.

[Aquavit]

7. Bale's arrival forces out Ozil

[link] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23929339 [/link]

Arsenal are close to completing the £42.4m signing of Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil, which would break their club record by £27.4m.

The 24-year-old has agreed personal terms but must have a medical before Arsenal can confirm his signing.

Ozil is on international duty and the medical will take place in Germany.

[T_i_B]

8. I can't help but feel that Arsenal got the better deal here

No wonder the Spanish economy is in such a mess.

[Aquavit]

10. Arsenal definitely got the best in this deal

Ozil is one of the most creative mids in the world. I think he, Giroud, and Walcott will do very, very well together.

[many a good man]

9. RM did the math

They'll make it up with jersey sales and other endorsements. That's more important to them than winning trophies.