How the Gareth Bale Situation Reflects on Real Madrid

Real Madrid have broken the world football transfer record four times in a row; now they're looking to smash it again.

Luis Figo's arrival for £37 million in 2000 was surpassed by Zinedine Zidane's £53 million move a year later. The Frenchman held onto the record much longer though, before Kaka took it from him in 2009 when he cost £56 million.

The Brazilian barely had chance to dig out his passport and board a plane to the Spanish capital when Cristiano Ronaldo was brought to the Bernabeu for £80 million—the record which stands today.

Los Blancos are hoping that their pursuit of Gareth Bale will end with them once again breaking their own record.

Smoke still surrounds the transfer though. Last week, Marca reported that a deal had been agreed for around £85 million, with the fee being paid across five installments.

Over the weekend, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas' words, as reported by Sky Sports, hardly sounded like those of a man who knew he had already lost his star player—even if he does know it's just a matter of time: 

"

These rumors of an imminent transfer are not true. The only thing we have communicated with Real Madrid is that he is our player and he is not for sale.

"

The price for the Welsh winger is extremely high, and it's unlikely anyone will agree on the reasons why it is a fair price or not any time soon, but do Real Madrid need to pay it?

Casemiro, Dani Carvajal, Isco and Asier Illarramendi have already joined the club for over £70 million this summer and, in light of the state of the Spanish economy, plus UEFA's financial regulations, the spending does appear lavish.

Structuring the deal across multiple years though, plus the marketing revenue Bale will bring in, means a club like Real Madrid, with their impressive turnover already, are unlikely to feel the pinch of UEFA's rules even if they dish out close to £100 million on one player.

But with The Guardian reporting that Cristiano Ronaldo is close to signing a new contract with the club—and Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil also ready to commit—money aside, is the 24-year-old Welshman needed at the club?

Based on last season's output, he'd be a welcome addition at any club: Madrid will make room for him and president Florentino Perez is clearly driven to top this summer off by landing the Premier League's Player of the Year.

Perez's continued chasing of Bale will propel his transfer dealings into the spotlight as much as ever. However, it will soon be forgotten—as is always the case in football.

There are plenty of factors which could reflect badly on Madrid: unsettling a contracted player publicly, paying silly money and signing a player they don't strictly need.

If they sign the Welsh international, though, thoughts will immediately turn to the pitch. How will he fit in? How will Bale and Ronaldo link up? Can Madrid, whisper it, win La Decima—a 10th European crown? All that has gone before will largely be left in the past.

And if they don't? Get ready to do this all again next summer.