Ancelotti: Bale is 'fantastic player'

Ancelotti began his media conference in the Spanish capital by telling a handful of British journalists that he would not talk about any players that are not already at the club but did praise Bale's qualities. ITV News understand he could be unveiled at the Santiago Bernebeau as early as Monday.

It is understood that the long, drawn out nature of the deal has left the Spanish club with everything in place to rush through the post-signing procedures before Bale flys back to Wales to join up with the Welsh national team on Tuesday.

Real Madrid officials have grown weary of the protracted nature of the deal to bring Bale to Spain. But Ancelotti played down suggestions that the lack of movement has been a frustration in his La Liga preparations.