PICTURE: Cristiano Ronaldo welcomes Gareth Bale to Madrid

Gareth Bale arrived in Madrid on Wednesday afternoon and was greeted by Cristiano Ronaldo at his new club.

The player, accompanied by Javier García Coll, was greeted by a handful of journalists waiting outside the Mirasierra Suites Hotel but refrained from speaking to the media, although he did stop momentarily to pose for photographs with a number of fans before disappearing to his hotel room.

Bale just missed Carlo Ancelotti who left the hotel minutes before his arrival.

The Welsh winger will train with the rest of the squad in the early evening session at Valdebebas when coaching staff will be able to gauge his level of fitness ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal.

On arrival at Real Madrid City, Bale was given a warm welcome by Ronaldo – a moment (above) captured by club photographers for Madrid’s website.

This story was originally published on AS English. For the best sports news from Spain without picking up a dictionary, visit www.as.com/english