These are the latest Cardiff City headlines on Sunday, March 27.
McGuinness has no regrets
Cardiff defender Mark McGuinness says he has no regrets over leaving Arsenal for south Wales.
The young Republic of Ireland star has been one of the Bluebirds' standout players this season despite the tumultuous nature of the campaign. He has become something of a mainstay under new boss Steve Morison and his performances have belied his tender age.
Leaving a Premier League outfit like the Gunners can't have been an easy decision but 20-year-old McGuinness says it was actually straightforward.
“I was there since I was 10 but it was a no-brainer for me," he admitted. "I had that loan spell at Ipswich and had racked up 25 games or whatever and had that spell in first-team football and it’s completely different to academy football, miles different. And I didn’t want to go back to that.”
McGuinness is currently away with the Republic of Ireland under-21s side and revealed that both England and Northern Ireland had courted him before he nailed his colours to the international mast.
“There was always interest, and other things," he added. "But my heart was always set on playing here. It’s difficult because when you are a young player at Arsenal it’s always going to be people asking questions. But I was very clear where I wanted to go and play. That was here. That was my first taste of it. Once I had that I was hooked.”
Bale's future depends on one thing
Gareth Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett says the Real Madrid star's future all depends on what happens with Wales this summer.
Bale is out of contract in the Spanish capital at the end of the current campaign and is almost certain to move on. Cardiff are currently second favourites to sign the 32-year-old, with the Welshman having an eye on the World Cup in Qatar in November, should Wales qualify for the tournament.
Rob Page's men will learn their fate in June when they face either Scotland or Ukraine for a place in the competition they have not competed in since 1958. Bale's representative Barnett says his client's future depends on that match, while also expressing his views on Real's treatment of the former Tottenham man. You can read a full analysis of the situation here.
“If they put the player [Bale] in the team and integrated him more, they would have a great player,” Barnett said in The Telegraph. “But we will live with it and move on.”
“Gareth has no idea what will happen in the summer, it all depends on Wales," he added. "We haven’t spoken with anyone yet, we will make a decision at some point in June. He is one of the best British players of all time and the best Welshman in history.”
In a separate interview with the Daily Mail, Barnett reveals there have been enquiries already. "We have had a lot of interest in him but we have not done anything," Barnett added. "After June we will discuss what we want to do. I have been saying for years he is one of Britain’s greatest, most successful sports stars. If he hasn’t had the credit he deserves, it’s because he doesn’t speak much publicly. He is a quiet lad but I don’t understand why he hasn’t been treated better."
Uche heads home
Striker Uche Ikpeazu has been putting in the hard yards during the international break. The on-loan Middlesbrough man has been out in the Middle East over the past week or so, doing individual training work before the South Wales derby.
He's been keeping fans abreast of his progress on social media, posting pictures of him doing sprints on the beach in Dubai. Ikpeazu has been mainly used as an impact sub so far during his time in south Wales. One wonders whether Morison would be tempted to use him from the off against Swansea at Cardiff City Stadium next Saturday.
The boss said earlier this month: "From our point of view, it's weighing up whether he has the impact because he's coming of the bench. It's about working out whether if he can have that impact for 60, 70, 80, 90 minutes.
"He did well when he came on today. It was a game that suited him. Obviously I had to take Isaak [Davies] off. It wasn't his day. We felt that rather than bring Mark Harris on against their physical back three, we needed someone who could match them up in that moment. Everyone's up for consideration. I just try and pick the best team I can."
