Gareth Bale is the future of Real Madrid and the beating heart of the sensational Wales national side. Although always an exceptional athlete (at school his PE teacher had to impose special restrictions on him to make it fair for other pupils), at one time it seemed like Bale’s terrible injury record would stop him from ever fulfilling his potential. But in the season of 2012/13 he caught fire for Tottenham Hotspur and never looked back, bagging a PFA Player of the Year Award and—ultimately—a move to the world’s biggest club. His transfer to Real Madrid made him the world’s most expensive footballer, in a staggering deal said to eclipse the previous record fee Real paid for Cristiano Ronaldo, and his life changed forever. After winning the Champions League twice with them, and spearheading Wales’s astonishing charge to the semi-finals of the 2016 Euros, he is now lining up to compete with Neymar and Pogba for the position of the world’s next premier player. In this revealing portrait of the player, acclaimed football biographer Frank Worrall delves behind the headlines to give an insight into just how the boy from Cardiff went on to become the world’s most in demand player. He also traces how his relationship with the notoriously competitive Ronaldo unfolded and how he has gradually emerged from his teammate’s shadow to become Real Madrid’s most prized asset, and a Welsh national hero.

Follow soccer superstar Gareth Bale's amazing journey from the Cardiff suburbs to Europe's most successful club, Real Madrid. Also a mainstay of the Welsh national team, Bale led it to the semifinals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Filled with lively writing, fun features, fantastic photographs, and enlightening quotes, this ultimate fan book celebrates Bale's greatest moments and most famous goals.

Gareth Bale is the future of Real Madrid and the beating heart of the sensational Wales national side. Although always an exceptional athlete, at one time it seemed like Bale s terrible injury record would stop him from ever fulfilling his potential. But in the season of 2012-2013, he caught fire for Tottenham Hotspur and never looked back, bagging a PFA Player of the Year Award and a move to the world s biggest club. His transfer to Real Madrid made him the world s most expensive player, and his life changed forever. This revealing portrait delves into just how the boy from Cardiff went on to become the world s most in-demand player. It also traces how his relationship with the notoriously competitive Ronaldo unfolded and how he has gradually emerged from his teammate s shadow to become Real Madrid s most prized asset, and a Welsh national hero.

When a young Gareth's PE teacher told him he could only play with one foot to give the other team a chance, it was obvious he was a special talent. His early career was a constant struggle. He was dogged by injuries and was almost sold by Spurs after fans believed he was cursed--they failed to win 24 games in a row with Gareth in the team. But one night changed all that. Destroying his opposite number in Spurs' first Champions League campaign, he announced himself on the world stage in blistering style. And now he plays at the greatest club in the world, Real Madrid, alongside the world's greatest player, Ronaldo. He was instrumental in winning Madrid their 10th European Cup--La Decima--after scoring the decisive goal in the final. His story is a lesson that applied talent can overcome any obstacle.

Gareth Bale is one of the most promising young talents in the Premier League, and is regarded as one of Europe's hottest football properties.Born in 1989, Bale first attracted the attention of Southampton FC at the age of just nine. At secondary school, he was such a prodigious talent that his PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to impose special restrictions on him to make it fair for the other pupils. After completing his GCSE exams, Bale became the second-youngest player ever to sign for Southampton on 17 April 2006.The Premier League soon came calling and in 2007 Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur. His career at White Hart Lane didn't get off to the best start, but in late 2009 he seized his chance to secure a regular place in the first team and has since proved to be a top-class footballer with a stunning hat-trick in Tottenham's Europa League tie against Inter Milan at the San Siro and a man-of-the-match performance in the return leg.Bale has unsurprisingly also made several appearances for Wales, and his talent has been compared to that of the legendary Ryan Giggs. He's fast, he's strong, he's an excellent and he scores goals. This is the fascinating biography of Tottenham's latest superstar player.