What happened to the last 10 record signings as Real Madrid and Gareth Bale reach an impasse

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  • Gareth Bale‘s transfer saga is proving to be one of the most protracted in recent memory.

    From a world-record signing six years ago and winning four Champions League titles since, the Welshman is now being forced out the door at Real Madrid.

    It’s been a startling fall from grace for Bale, but becoming the world’s most expensive player is no guarantee of glory to follow.

    Previous record-breakers have experienced varying fates and here, we look at the 10 most recent players who reigned as the most expensive and look at what happened next.

    NEYMAR – 2017 | Barcelona to PSG | €222m

    Having shone at Barcelona, Neymar grew convinced he was ready to flourish away from Lionel Messi’s shadow. Following Paris Saint-Germain’s shattering of the world record fee to sign the Brazilian, he has found his excursions in Ligue 1 comfortable, almost too comfortable.

    Despite heavy investment, it’s become apparent the Parisians are no closer to achieving their dream of Champions League glory, and that has found Neymar yearning for a move back to the Camp Nou.

    The emergence of Kylian Mbappe has also seen his status as PSG’s talisman challenged. So despite bagging 51 goals in 58 appearances and winning back-to-back league titles, Neymar just doesn’t feel at home.

    Having flirted with Barca over the summer before failing to show up on time for pre-season, Neymar has burned several bridges in Paris and put himself in a very tough spot indeed.

    Rating – 5/10

    PAUL POGBA – 2016 | Juventus to Manchester United | €105m

    Jose Mourinho’s tenure as Manchester United boss was off to a promising start when Paul Pogba returned to the club as the world’s most expensive player. The Frenchman’s quality has never been in doubt; his temperament has often drawn criticism, though.

    Pogba was expected to drag an otherwise fairly average team up to his standards but has often allowed himself to sink to theirs. When on song, Pogba has shown why he’s regarded among the world’s best with an iconic performance in the Manchester derby in 2017/18 proving as much.

    His form dipped dramatically after falling out with Mourinho only to enjoy an immediate resurgence following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment.

    That said, he’s spent much of the summer plotting an exit form Old Trafford but with United refusing to sell below valuation of the Frenchman, he’s been professional since returning for pre-season and has looked sharp in friendlies, although he was rumoured to have refused to travel with the squad for their final pre-season friendly with AC MIlan in Cardiff on Saturday. Solskjaer has maintained the midfielder remains integral to his plans.

    Rating – 6/10

    GARETH BALE – 2013 | Tottenham to Real Madrid | €100m

    When Real Madrid broke the transfer record for Bale he was quickly billed as Cristiano Ronaldo’s eventual successor. He began life at the Santiago Bernabeu well enough but was always a notch below the Portuguese who remained the main man.

    He also earned a reputation for being prone to injuries but in fairness to the Welshman, he was still a remarkable player and produced the spectacular at key moments. His phenomenal bicycle-kick in the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool will go down as one of the best in the tournament’s rich history and, having scored again in that encounter, was named man of the match.

    However, he was not a favourite of Zinedine Zidane’s, even starting the final on the bench. Ronaldo’s departure last season set the stage for Bale to seize the crown but he was not up to the task.

    With Zidane’s return, the Frenchman has actively tried to push Bale out of the club only to face resistance from president Florentino Perez. The whole debacle this summer has grown ugly with no takers for a 30-year-old injury-prone winger on massive wages, leaving Bale in limbo.

    Rating – 7/10

    CRISTIANO RONALDO – 2009 | Manchester United to Real Madrid | €94m

    After a lengthy pursuit of the 2008 Ballon d’Or winner, Madrid finally had their man. Cristiano Ronaldo was greeted with much fanfare and was marketed as Real’s answer to Lionel Messi.

    It was a tall order for the Portuguese but he took it on as if fully aware it was his destiny. What ensued was one of the greatest sporting rivalries of all time. Messi and Ronaldo would push each other’s limits for nearly a decade.

    The two were in direct competition for the Pichichi award and Ballon d’Or year after year. Ronaldo went on to become Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer with a staggering 450 goals in just 438 games. He broke numerous other records as he led the team to four Champions League titles.

    When the forward left last summer, he had won the Ballon d’Or five times, only Messi equals that.

    Rating – 10/10

    Success story: Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Success story: Cristiano Ronaldo.

    ZINEDINE ZIDANE – 2001 | Juventus to Real Madrid | €77.5m

    Ironically, there are parallels to be drawn between Bale and the man who has ostracised him. Zidane also arrived at Real for a world-record fee and scored one of the greatest Champions League goals – a stunning volley in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen.

    Unlike Bale, the Frenchman would go on to achieve legendary status at the Bernabeu. Los Blancos fans were in awe of the elite playmaker’s elegance on the ball, showing immense vision and control to link play with the other Galacticos around him.

    He retired on the top of his game with the Bernabeu packed for his farewell match that featured a banner that read: “Thanks for the magic”.

    Rating – 8/10

    KAKA – 2009 | AC Milan to Real Madrid | €67m

    Kaka made the move from Milan to Madrid for a fee which would be obliterated only days later when they signed Ronaldo. Unlike the Portuguese though, he didn’t live up to his billing.

    To say the Brazilian was a flop would be harsh. He finished with the most assists in his first season to go with eight goals. He was still a world class player but never looked completely comfortable in his new surroundings and injuries soon got the better of him.

    After four average seasons and one La Liga title, he returned to Milan on a free transfer.

    Rating – 5/10

    LUIS FIGO – 2000 | Barcelona to Real Madrid | €62m

    At the time Luis Figo was one of the best players in the world and the reigning king at Camp Nou. That’s what made Madrid’s coup so audacious. It added fuel to an already bitter rivalry and the winger was branded a traitor in Catalonia.

    However, Figo was an instant hit in the capital. Not only did his arrival antagonise their greatest rivals but he also fired Madrid to the title in his first season, scoring 14 goals and winning the Ballon d’Or in the process.

    He would go on to deliver on a regular basis until his free transfer to Inter Milan in 2005.

    Rating – 8/10

    Ballon d'Or winner Luis Figo

    HERNAN CRESPO – 2000 | Parma to Lazio | €56.5m

    When Lazio signed Hernan Crespo in 2000, they weren’t just getting the world’s most expensive player but one of the most feared strikers in the game.

    The Argentine proved unstoppable at Parma, scoring 80 times in 150 appearances. Two stunning seasons in Rome followed where he scored 48 goals in just 73 games.

    However the second campaign was marred by injuries that began to take their toll. With Lazio struggling financially, he was sold to Inter for a cut-price €26m.

    Rating – 7/10

    Hernan Crespo

    CHRISTIAN VIERI – 1999 | Lazio to Inter | €43m

    Though he was something of a journeyman at the time, Christian Vieri had proved to be a top class marksman several times over. So when Inter broke the record to have him partner with Ronaldo up front, they had football fans everywhere swooning.

    Unfortunately, that deadly strike-force barely saw the light of day with the Brazilian plagued by injuries. Vieri would at least go on to shine for the Nerazzurri, scoring over 120 goals and forging a good partnership with Crespo.

    Rating – 8/10

    Christian Vieiri

    DENILSON – 1998 | Sao Paulo to Real Betis | €31m

    Following some promising displays in the 1998 World Cup, Real Betis decided to make a splash by splurging on Denilson. The Spanish side figured they were signing the next great Brazilian talent but what they got in the 21-year-old was little more than a show pony.

    They were relegated that season but Denilson remained on their books for seven years despite being reduced to a fringe player. He scored 13 goals in 186 games for the Spanish outfit before joining Bordeaux in 2005.

    After stints in the MLS, Vietnam and Greece, he retired in 2010.

    Rating – 1/10

    Denilson

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