Vote now: who is the greatest ever Galactico? Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham, Kaka FROM scrawny Southampton schoolboy to Tottenham jinx to the dizzying heights of Real Madrid Galactico, sports scribes will be clamouring to write Gareth Bales biography when the Spurs superstar retires. After protracted negotiations throughout the transfer window, the 24-year-old Welsh wonder has finally secured a dream move to Madrid for a world record £86million fee. Bale becomes the latest in a long and very expensive line of footballing royalty to join Real president Florentino Perez's "Galacticos" - Spanish for galactics. The honour roll of those who've donned the famous white jersey of Madrid in recent years include Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, the Brazilian and the Portuguese Ronaldos, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Michael Owen and Kaka. With Bale's arrival at Real Madrid, we're asking, who is the club's greatest ever Galactico? Vote in our Poll. Over Perez's two stints (2000-2007 and 2009-present) the club have spent a staggering A$876 million in transfer fees. The La Liga side have smashed their own transfer record four times in the last 12 years and former manager Jorge Valdano explains the idea behind the ambitious project. "The plan was to buy a world-class player every year, thereby creating a global brand identity for the club," Valdano said. We live in the age of globalisation, but we can only conquer this market from within our jungle, by exploiting the beauty and fascination of the game. In that regard, you'd have to call the project a success, Los Blancos are the richest, and most valuable football club on the planet. But on-field success will be Bale's most pressing concern, and if previous Galacticos are anything to go by the steep ascent to Madrid superstardom brings certain pitfalls. For every Zidane - who moved to the club from Juventus in 2001, helped them to the 2002 Champions League title and is now assistant coach and sporting director of the club - there's been a Michael Owen or Kaka. Owen was the third Englishman to play for Madrid - following in the footsteps of Steve McManaman and David Beckham - but struggled in the Spanish capital and never got his career going again after moving back to England after just one season. Kaka - the third most expensive player in history, and without a doubt the most expensive ever bench warmer - has found himself out of favour thanks largely in part to a run of injuries. The two Ronaldos encountered no such problems. The Brazil legend arrived off the back of a World Cup-winning effort in 2002 and was as successful on the pitch as he was at selling the iconic Madrid jersey with his name and No.9. The Portuguese Ronaldo was unveiled in front of 80,000 delirious fans following his then-world record A$139m move from Manchester United in 2009. The 28-year-old has scored goals for fun in the Spanish capital, passing the 200-goal mark without looking like letting up anytime soon. Bale will have his chance when he runs out for the mega-club and shouldn't be under any illusions as to the massive step up it is from his humble beginnings at the Southampton Academy. But the Welshman has grown a lot from the scrawny teenager and - if last season is anything to go by - he should flourish amongst Madrid's latest batch of Galacticos. This writer is on Twitter: @huw_bonello