Gareth Bale's next port of call following his Real Madrid exit remains unclear.
But the whispers and rumours over a potential homecoming to boyhood club Cardiff City refuse to go away.
Wales legend Bale, 32, spent nine trophy-laden years in Spain winning five Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles. Sunday saw him play a prominent role in helping his country reach their first World Cup since 1958. His free-kick was deflected into the net by Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko as Wales sealed a gritty 1-0 win to book their place in Qatar.
There are still five months until the tournament begins and having now departed Madrid, questions remain over where Bale will end up as he looks to get himself in perfect shape ahead of the winter showpiece.
Speaking in the aftermath of the win, he said: "The result is the greatest result in the history of Welsh football. We're all ecstatic, you can see it with the fans, we're going to the World Cup. It's what dreams are made of, it's what we've been working for since we first got here, I'm speechless because I'm so happy. We did it for all our amazing fans. Words don't describe how I feel at the moment."
Bale was also quizzed on whether he had received any or many offers since confirming his exit from Real, to which he replied: "I've got loads!"
Will Bale make a sensational move to Cardiff? Let us know in the comments
Since that Wales win on Sunday Bluebirds' chairman Mehmet Dalman has flown into the UK to lead negotiations with Bale's representatives. He wants to see whether an ambitious deal can actually be achieved, although it is evident Bale would have to take a monumental pay decrease for any agreement to be reached.
Should Cardiff seal a sensational transfer for Bale, it would not be the first time they have managed to entice top class players to drop down into the Championship. Back in the summer of 2007 City pulled off something of a coup by bringing in Premier League royalty in Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The pair were picked up on free transfers from Liverpool and Charlton respectively and arrived with a wealth of experience in the top flight, Europe and international football.
Whilst the signings brought Cardiff plenty of publicity and column inches, ultimately they could not aid the club's push for promotion. The duo scored just 14 goals between them as Dave Jones' side finished 12th although they did memorably reach that season's FA Cup final, losing 1-0 to Portsmouth.
Both players ended up leaving after one season and in the main it is a period not looked back on fondly.
A few years later City again dipped their toes in the luxury player market, completing a deal to bring Cardiff-born striker Craig Bellamy to the club. Bellamy had scored double figures with Manchester City in the Premier League in the 2009-10 season and so his arrival the following summer at second tier Cardiff provided quite the fillip in South Wales.
Bellamy impressed too, hitting 11 goals as the side reached the Championship play-offs only to be beaten in the semi-finals by Reading with the City loanee going off injured in the first leg. Cardiff would go on to lose the second leg 3-0.
Bellamy returned to his parent club but insisted he had unfinished business. After a brief stint at Liverpool he returned to the Bluebirds for the 2012-13 season. This time he achieved his aim of getting them promoted as Malky Mackay's side clinched the title. He retired the following season after City's immediate relegation.
Now, eight years on another Wales icon and son of Cardiff could be set for an emotional return home. Despite his exertions in the win over Ukraine, Bale is set to play some part in Wales' Nations League games at home to both the Netherlands and Belgium this week.
And if Bluebirds' fans get their wish that will not be the last the Cardiff City Stadium sees of him in 2022.
