'Tottenham legend' Gareth Bale (35, retired) has shown significant interest in acquiring an English club, but is yet to achieve any notable results.
The BBC reported on the 22nd (Korean time) that 'Bale participated in a bid to acquire Cardiff City, but the club rejected it.'
Bale, who was a star for Real Madrid and the Wales national team, is said to have been part of the group attempting to acquire his hometown team, Cardiff City.
At 35 years old, Bale reportedly contacted club owner Vincent Tan this May to secure equity in Cardiff City, which belongs to League One (the third division) in England, after retiring from active play in January 2023.
However, the club owner Tan, who is from Malaysia, does not seem to have any intention of selling at this time. The BBC noted, 'This proposal was rejected. The proposal reportedly did not even reach the discussion stage at the board level. However, this acquisition group is said to have a high possibility of attempting again in the future.'
Cardiff City has not provided any specific comments regarding the reports following their recent relegation from the Championship (the second division).
Earlier this June, there were also reports that Bale attempted to acquire Plymouth Argyle, another team in League One, as part of a U.S.-based investment group.
Meanwhile, Bale was considered world-class during his active career.
Bale played for Southampton Youth from 2006 to 2007 and then for Tottenham (2007-2013) and Real Madrid (2013-2022). Bale even returned to Tottenham on a one-season loan in the summer of 2020. Under manager José Mourinho, Bale aimed for a grand comeback, but his body was not the same as before. He returned to Real in 2021.
Bale's transfer to Real in 2013 was called 'the transfer of the century.' He contributed to Real's remarkable three consecutive UEFA Champions League (UCL) titles and five overall victories. In particular, he showcased great performances in key matches of the UCL.
Towards the end of his time at Real, Bale experienced a rapid decline. There were subsequent assessments that his professionalism waned. He was even mocked with suggestions that he preferred golf over football.
Joining Major League Soccer (MLS) club Los Angeles FC after leaving Real, he scored in the final, gifting the team their inaugural championship. In January 2023, Bale announced his retirement from active play.
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