Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney has made yet another plea to Gareth Bale, urging the former Real Madrid, Tottenham and Wales forward to come out of retirement for another year.
It comes with the Red Dragons sealing promotion into the football league as National League champions for the first time in 15 years. Under the ownership of McElhenney and fellow Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham have become one of the most followed sides across the world.
The popularity of the club and standing of its famous owners has allowed it to attract players already above the standard paygrade for the fifth tier of English football with Paul Mullin starring for two years as well as temporary transfer Ben Foster.
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The ex-England and Manchester United goalkeeper surprised everyone with a short-term deal to join Wrexham until the end of the season but helped steer them over the line. Getting Bale, a five-time Champions League winner, to return to the pitch just four months after hanging up his boots, would be a different type of achievement entirely.
Following a back-and-forth on social media between Bale, Reynolds and McElhenney, all parties have recently addressed the chances of a miraculous career U-turn for the Wales legend. McElhenney has taken it a step further.
Speaking on The Aarthi and Sriram Show, the 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' star was urged to send a message to Bale, and 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."
The pair have been sending messages across the world via interviews and social media with Bale seemingly putting the chances of his move to bed when speaking at the UK Sport Industry Awards 2023, Bale said: "No I don’t think so," when asked about the prospect of playing for 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."
He also added that he wasn't missing professional football after ending his playing days following the World Cup. "No. I’m enjoying my time away," he said. "I started at a young age and felt the time was right."
Reynolds and McElhenney have already reiterated their 'serious' intention to sign the 33-year-old, though, 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."
Wrexham are currently preparing for life in League Two, a division they have been tipped to breeze straight through under experienced head coach Phil Parkinson. Bale has played for a myriad of clubs since moving from Southampton's academy to Spurs.
He called time on his glittering career whilst in America at MLS side LAFC.
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