Last August
Gareth Bale was in Cardiff on international duty, dodging Spanish
journalists on his way to meet up with his Wales team-mates, and still
uncertain of his £86million transfer to Real Madrid.
One
year on, he will be back in Cardiff to play in the European Super Cup
for Real against Sevilla and he will do so with 22 goals, the Spanish
Cup and the Champions League. It’s hard to recall a record signing who
has had a greater impact in his first year.
Bale
is only the third player in Real Madrid’s history to score in the final
of both the European Cup and the Spanish Cup in the same season. Only
Ferenc Puskas and Raul have done it before.
Legend: Gareth Bale was instrumental in landing Real Madrid their much-wanted tenth European Cup
La Decima: The Bernabeu was full of supporters as the club paraded their newly won trophy through Madrid
THE YEAR THAT WAS
Sept 1, 2013: Signs for Real Madrid for a world record £86million.
Sept 14: Scores on debut in 2-2 draw against Villarreal.
Oct 30: Scores two in 7-3 victory against Sevilla. Dubbed Cañonito — little cannon — by local media.
Nov 30: A perfect hat-trick — header and goal with each foot — in 4-0 win over Real Valladolid.
April 16, 2014: Brilliant solo effort in victory over Barcelona in Copa del Rey final is his 20th of the season.
May 24: His goal sets up Real’s 10th European Cup triumph.
Sept 14: Scores on debut in 2-2 draw against Villarreal.
Oct 30: Scores two in 7-3 victory against Sevilla. Dubbed Cañonito — little cannon — by local media.
Nov 30: A perfect hat-trick — header and goal with each foot — in 4-0 win over Real Valladolid.
April 16, 2014: Brilliant solo effort in victory over Barcelona in Copa del Rey final is his 20th of the season.
May 24: His goal sets up Real’s 10th European Cup triumph.
No wonder
Spanish sports daily Marca claimed: ‘He has turned out to be a bargain;
he is already a Real Madrid legend’ and Diario AS added: ‘Bale’s was the
winner; it was game over after that.’
Bale
has already outdone all previous Brits abroad. Laurie Cunningham played
in the 1981 European Cup final that Real Madrid lost to Liverpool and
Steve McManaman was a goalscoring, man-of-the-match, winner in 2000 when
Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0.
David Beckham managed just one Champions League quarter-final appearance in his four years at Real Madrid.
Paul
Lambert and Owen Hargreaves both won European Cups with foreign clubs
and Kevin Keegan won European Footballer of the Year at Hamburg but
never the European Cup with them.
Bale
has often also outshone the man he came to aid and abet last summer,
Cristiano Ronaldo. He has delivered more than the Portuguese in the
finals, although he was at pains to point out both halves of the dynamic
duo have taken Real Madrid to glory this season.
Big moment: This header earned Bale infamy in Real Madrid's long history
Inside
the Estadio da Luz with his medal around his neck, before the players
were whisked back to Lisbon airport for their 6am date at Madrid’s
Cibeles fountain, he said: ‘We work well together and we enjoy playing
alongside each other. Whoever scores we are all happy as long as we are
winning.’
The
24-year-old’s favourite post-match phrase is ‘It’s a dream come true’
and when he was a teenage fan of the Spanish side he will have imagined
such heroics as only a wide-eyed wannabe can.
‘The
reason I joined Real Madrid was to play in these amazing matches. It’s
hard to describe how I felt when the ball went in. It was an incredible
feeling seeing all the fans behind that goal and all the players run
towards me to celebrate.’
Upstaged: Bale outshone the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo
Even
Zinedine Zidane had joined in as the player he pushed the club to sign
last summer delivered one of the most famous goals in their history.
‘When
we got the equaliser it seemed that we had the momentum going into
extra time. We looked fresher than them. They had a few players who had
cramp and we showed what physical condition we were in,’ said Bale.
Stories
about Bale needing an operation this summer to cure a hernia were
rubbished by his agent and there looked very little wrong as he leapt to
head home after Thibaut Courtois had only managed to deflect a shot
from Angel di Maria.
Best ever: Bale has now proven himself as Britain's best ever footballing export
There
had been tension earlier in the season, with the Argentine unhappy at
being usurped by the new signing from Tottenham, especially as he was
playing well.
But
problem solver Carlo Ancelotti made room for both and Bale’s team-mates
have been completely won over by the shy boy from Cardiff, who will be
going home this August having established himself as Britain’s best ever
footballing export.