Gareth Bale: ‘I feel like I have that winning mentality, I know how to win trophies,’ says winger upon return to Tottenham Hotspur

Thirty-one-year-old joins his former club on loan from Real Madrid

El galés arribó el viernes a Londres para firmar su contrato con los Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Gareth Bale has spoken about his emotions around returning to Tottenham in a season-long loan move from Real Madrid.

Bale left Spurs in 2013 for a then-world record £85.3million fee, and had been ostracised by Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane in recent times.

Madrid are understood to have agreed to subsidise around 50 percent of Bale’s salary in order to facilitate the move, with Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, admitting Tottenham still had a “special place” in the winger’s heart and that it’s “where he wants to be”.

Upon the announcement of his return to Spurs on Saturday, Bale said: “It’s nice to be back. It’s such a special club to me, it’s where I made my name. What an amazing club, amazing fans, just incredible to be back. 

“Hopefully now I can get some match fitness and get under way and really help the team, and hopefully win trophies.”

Bale, 31, had been linked with a return to Tottenham for a number of years, and asked whether it was inevitable in his mind, the winger said: “Of course, I think – as I said – it’s such a special club, I always thought that one day when I did leave [Real Madrid] I would love to come back. The opportunity now has arisen and I feel like it’s a good fit, it’s a good time to me. I’m hungry, I’m motivated, I wanna do well for the team. I can’t wait to get started.

“By going to Madrid, winning trophies and going far with the national team, I feel like I have that kind of winning mentality – how to win trophies. 

“You don’t realise it until you’re there, and it’s – in those situations, in finals – knowing how to kind of deal with the situation, the nerves, the pressure. I think that all goes with experience, so hopefully I can bring that to the dressing room, bring a bit more belief to everybody that we can win a trophy, and the target is to do that this season – not to just win one, but to be fighting on every front possible.”

Bale added that he has been impressed with how Spurs have progressed in his absence, though he is desperate to help them lift the trophies that they have still been missing while the Wales Captain has been away winning four Champions League and two La Ligas – among other trophies in Spain.

“I was speaking with the chairman before, obviously we were speaking about the past, what we did to get the club to the next level, and since I’ve left the club’s just been building and growing,” Bale said.

“And I just said the stadium is incredible, the training ground has got even better since I was here last. So it’s an exciting time for everybody here. The club continues to progress every year, which is great, and I wanna contribute to that again, and get us to the next level, which is winning a trophy.

“I know I keep saying it, but it’s such an important thing for this club to win trophies, and that’s what we all wanna do as players, we wanna win trophies in our careers. And to be doing it at Tottenham now would be a dream come true.”

The announcement of Bale’s arrival in north London was preceded by the news of Sergio Reguilon joining Spurs, also from Real Madrid, for £27m. And Bale weighed in on the full-back’s qualities.

“He’s an exciting young player, I’ve been with him for a couple of years at Madrid. Obviously he did great last year for Sevilla in their season, winning the Europa league. He’s very energetic, loves attacking, great delivery, so he’s a great signing – a great addition to the squad. I think everyone will enjoy watching him.”