EU urged to investigate Bale transfer

According to reports, British MEP Daniel Dalton, Catalan colleague Ramon Tremosa and Belgian MEP Sander Loones have asked the EU to find out if the transfer was supported by Spanish banks that had been bailed out by EU tax-payers.

"If taxpayers' money was used to underwrite the Gareth Bale transfer deal then this is something the EU should investigate," Dalton was quoted as saying by the media.

"Real Madrid are the world's richest football club and if it has used a state-owned bank, owned by taxpayers, to guarantee ... record transfer fees then it is clearly something the EU should look to address to ensure there are no unfair competitive advantages given to football teams supported by taxpayer-funded financial institutions."

Bale has been out of action since damaging a calf muscle in the La Liga match against Sporting Gijon last month.

The Wales international missed Los Blancos' 2-0 victory at Roma in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.