Wales great Gareth Bale was a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid Former Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale was part of a bid launched in May to buy hometown club Cardiff City. The 35-year-old former Wales captain, whoretired from playingin January 2023, is understood to have been part of a group that made direct contact with Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan with a proposal to take a controlling share at the League One club. The offer was rejected, with the Malaysian businessman thought to have little interest in selling at the moment, however the assumption is that the group will try again. Cardiff are not commenting on the reports that emerged late on Friday afternoon concerning a bid for the club newly relegated from the Championship. It is understood the proposal did not reach boardroom discussion stage. Bale - who won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid - had been linked with a move to Cardiff as a player in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup, before opting to join Major League Soccer side (MLS) side Los Angeles FC. It was reported earlier in June he was part of a US-based consortium's attempt to take over Cardiff'sfellow League One club Plymouth Argyle.
Bale part of group to have Cardiff City takeover bid rejected
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"Gareth Bale's Group Has Cardiff City Takeover Bid Rejected by Owner Vincent Tan"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Gareth Bale, the former Real Madrid and Wales captain, was part of a consortium that made a bid to acquire Cardiff City, the football club he has long supported. The bid, launched in May 2023, aimed to secure a controlling stake in the club, which has recently faced relegation to League One. Bale's group reportedly reached out directly to Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan to present their proposal. However, the offer was ultimately rejected, as Tan appears to have little interest in selling the club at this time. Despite this setback, sources indicate that Bale and his associates may attempt to negotiate again in the future. The club has chosen not to comment publicly on the details of the bid, which did not progress to discussions at the board level.
Bale's involvement in the bid is notable given his status as a local hero in Wales, having achieved significant success during his playing career, including five Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Prior to his retirement in January 2023, Bale had been linked with a potential return to Cardiff City as a player, especially during the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup, but ultimately chose to join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC instead. Additionally, it was reported that Bale was involved in a separate attempt by a U.S.-based consortium to take over Plymouth Argyle, another club in League One. This involvement highlights Bale's ongoing interest in football beyond his playing days, as he looks to have a role in shaping the future of clubs within his home country and beyond.
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