Gareth Bale eyes second bid for Cardiff City as former Wales star confirms interest in hometown club
Gareth Bale eyes second bid for Cardiff City as former Wales star confirms interest in hometown club
Former Welsh international football star Gareth Bale has revealed his ambition to take Cardiff City back to the Premier League, speaking publicly for the first time since a consortium he leads had a bid for his hometown club rejected.
The Bluebirds were relegated to League One for the first time in more than 20 years, following several seasons of flirting with a drop into the third tier. The Welsh capital-based side have enjoyed two stints in the top flight under the ownership of Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan, but fans have become increasingly frustrated with the club’s hierarchy.
Speaking about the potential deal to Sky Sports on the red carpet for the new F1 movie, Bale said: “We are interested in getting Cardiff. It’s my home club, it’s where I grew up, and my uncle used to play for them. To be involved with an ownership group would be a dream come true.”
Bale, who retired from professional football in 2023, has increasingly focused on business and sports ventures. Cardiff City were publicly pursuing Bale’s signature before his move to LAFC, shortly before he hung up his boots.
While Bale has never worn the blue shirt of Cardiff as a player, having come through the academy at Southampton before starring for Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, he has never shied away from being a proud Cardiffian.
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Widely regarded as the greatest Welsh footballer of all time, Bale’s global profile would be a major asset in any prospective leadership role at the club, should the deal materialize.
Bale would join a growing list of former superstar footballers who have turned to club ownership in retirement, including his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modrić, now a minority owner of Cardiff’s bitter rivals Swansea City.
“It’s a club close to my heart,” Bale added. “It’s where I grew up and I would love to be a part of growing Cardiff and taking it to the Premier League where it belongs.”
“I know how amazing the Welsh fans and Cardiff fans are. It would be amazing to try and do something together,” he said. “We are trying to engage with Cardiff, and more news will come out on that in the future, but hopefully we can get something done.”
Recent reports suggested that the consortium led by Bale had shown interest in Cardiff’s divisional rivals Plymouth Argyle, claims Bale has firmly denied.
Speaking to TalkSport, Bale said: “It’s always been Cardiff that we’ve been trying to get. Obviously, being from Cardiff, it’s where I was born, where I grew up, I’m very passionate. I know how passionate the Wales fans and the Cardiff fans are, so it’s an interesting time. An exciting time, and hopefully something can be done.”
“It will be exciting to be part of an ownership group, and I would love to go down that route.”
While specific details about the consortium or terms of the potential deal have not been disclosed, Bale’s involvement could bring increased visibility, commercial partnerships, and renewed ambition to the Bluebirds, who will be looking to return to the Championship at the first time of asking next season.
