Gareth Bale could be playing League Two football next year with a shock U-turn from retirement on the cards following the promotion of Wrexham. The Red Dragons blitzed the National League in Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's second full season in charge, sealing their passage back into the football league after beating Boreham Wood.
Having used all of their Hollywood connections and attraction to bring former England and Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster out of his own retirement, Bale may yet follow suit. The Welshman only hung up his boots officially in January after the World Cup in Qatar.
The famous and increasingly popular US-based owners have taken football by storm through their 'Welcome to Wrexham' TV documentary covering last season and they could be about to take the biggest step forward yet.
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Here's the latest on Bale, the five-time Champions League winner, and his potential move to Wrexham.
Fresh McElhenney message
McElhenney has continued Wrexham's defiant stance of trying to lure Bale out of retirement. Speaking on The Aarthi and Sriram Show, he said: "Gareth, okay listen, it's just me and you talking for a second. I know that Southern California is beautiful and I know, I'm from Philadelphia and I've lived here for many, many years but you're a young man and you have the rest of your life to live wherever you want.
"If you could just come back from one last year of glory, one last year. I believe your nation, the nation of Wales, could do the right thing. Call me."
Transfer plans revealed
The pair of owners have gone on record to say that the Bale move is far from a PR stunt, explaining their transfer strategy.
"We defer to Phil," McElhenney told S4C. "We are actively talking about that right now. I know for a fact he feels as though we have a very strong side.
"No decision that we have made over the last two years hasn’t kept the future in mind, so we never make a short-term decision.
"Any player that we have signed, we have signed to at least a three-year deal, except for one. He is the guy we are going to work on, but other than that, I think we have a very strong side. If Phil says we need somebody else, then we will do our best to go out and get them."
'Serious' Wrexham offer
Reynolds and McElhenney ramped up their interest in Bale publicly, saying to S4C: "I think there’s seriousness from our side, but I don’t know that there’s seriousness from his. I think he’s happy," McElhenney explained.
"I’m also weirdly happy for him to do exactly what he wants to do with his life," Reynolds added. “He’s given up so much for a sport that he loves. It’s fun, though. I like that we can kind of do some stuff that’s a little outside the box of convention when it comes to goofing around.
"I didn’t think Ben Foster would be coming over and he did."
Bale response
Speaking at the UK Sport Industry Awards 2023, Bale came close to putting an end to the speculation, saying: "No I don’t think so," when asked about moving to Wrexham.
"I think I was looking more for a free round of golf off Rob.
"I'm sure we'll have a chat and a joke but I'm quite happy where I am. I'm spending a lot of time with my kids, my wife, time that I've lost so much over the years being committed to football. I'm just enjoying family life and playing some golf."
Bale also furthered that, saying he wasn't missing football. "No. I’m enjoying my time away," he said. "I started at a young age and felt the time was right."
McElhenney tease
McElhenney got fans talking on social media once again on April 27, posting an image of Bale celebrating a goal in a Wrexham shirt with the two owners watching on.
It was captioned: "What if," a nod to a series by comic book giant Marvel based on alternate timelines.
Owners make Bale plea
Bale himself started this all off, sending a message of congratulations to the Welsh club for securing their promotion and title victory. Speaking in a video addressed to McElhenney, he said: "Hi Rob, just want to congratulate you on your promotion and everything you’re doing at Wrexham.”
The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star then replied with a tweet, writing: "Hey @GarethBale11 let’s play golf, where I totally won’t spend 4 hours trying to convince you to un-retire for one last magical season."
Bale last played in England in 2021 after joining Tottenham on loan. He teased fans in the responses to the message though, replying to McElhenney: "Depends what course."
Reynolds then got involved, saying: "I will shave a professional-grade golf course into Rob’s back if you’ll give Wrexham a season."
He then took a step back with another comedic tweet. "Update: after an online image search, it appears Rob does not have the requisite body hair to support this plan," Reynolds concluded.
What Bale has said
After announcing his retirement from football aged 33, Bale wrote: "After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.
"To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey feels like an impossibility," Bale added. "I feel indebted to many people for helping to change my life and shape my career in a way I couldn't ever have dreamed of when I first started out at 9 years old.
"To my previous clubs Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and finally LAFC, all of my managers and coaches, backroom staff, teammates, all the dedicated fans, my agents, my amazing friends and family, the impact you have had is immeasurable.
"My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am. The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales, has given me something incomparable to anything else I've experienced.
"I am honoured and humbled to have been able to play a part in the history of this incredible country, to have felt the support and passion of the red wall, and together have been to unexpected and amazing places.
"I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. A time of change and transition, an opportunity for a new adventure.
"So for now I am stepping back, but not away from the team that lives in me and runs through my veins," he added. "After all, the dragon on my shirt is all I need."
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