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Gareth Bale Returns To Tottenham As Loan Deal Made Official

Tottenham Hotspur have signed winger Gareth Bale and left back Sergio Reguilon from Spanish champions Real Madrid, the Premier League club announced in a statement on Saturday.

Bale returns to his former club on a one-year loan deal, with British media reporting that Spurs will pay 20 million pounds ($25.8 million) in wages and fees for the 31-year-old Wales forward.

Bale made more than 200 appearances for Spurs between 2007 and 2013, scoring 56 goals with 58 assists before his then world record move to Real for 100 million euros ($118.37 million).

He won four Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles with Real but has divided opinion amongst the club's fanbase, with some supporters frustrated by a perceived lack of commitment from the Welshman and his poor injury record.

Bale was poised for a move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning last year before the deal fell through.

He endured his worst season at Real in 2019-20, scoring only three goals in all competitions, and barely featured in their run to the Liga title.

His growing rift with manager Zinedine Zidane intensified when he did not travel with the squad for a Champions League clash against Manchester City last season.

Reguilon, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla, arrives for a reported fee of 30 million euros ($35.51 million). Reguilon, who made his Spain debut this month in a 4-0 win over Ukraine in the Nations League, was also linked with Manchester United but British media said the Old Trafford club refused to accept Real's insistence on a buy-back clause.

Reguilon's signing follows the arrivals of Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ireland defender Matt Doherty and former England goalkeeper Joe Hart at the north London club.

Tottenham, which lost its Premier League opener at home to Everton last weekend, visits Southampton on Sunday.

($1 = 0.7744 pounds; $1 = 0.8448 euros) (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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