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John Jones

What Aaron Ramsey has previously said about a return to Cardiff City amid 'beautiful' homecoming claim

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has done little to quell Cardiff City fans' excitement about a potential homecoming after failing to rule out a return to the capital this summer.

The 32-year-old, who is currently preparing to lead his country out against Armenia on Friday, sees his contract with current club Nice expire at the end of the month, although it is understood he's played enough games for the French side this season to trigger a one-year extension clause.

But with his future still very much up in the air, speculation has been mounting that he could return to the club where he started his career back, particularly after Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman told supporters to expect an "exciting" signing in the coming weeks. You can get the latest Cardiff City stories sent straight to your inbox here.

READ MORE: A big announcement, foreign influence and the ban on paying fees: Cardiff City transfer window predictions

Quizzed about his current situation while on Wales duty, the former Arsenal and Juventus man admitted: "I'm not sure what my future is at the moment. The most important thing is for me to focus on these games (against Armenia and Turkey)

"We will find out in a few weeks' time, when everything has settled down a bit. My full focus is on Friday. I'll have to keep you guys [the press] waiting a bit longer."

When asked directly whether a return to the Bluebirds was on the cards, he kept his cards close to his chest, adding: "There's always rumours going around, isn't there? There is always that bit of noise. Like I said, Friday is all that's on my mind at the moment."

It's not the first time that Ramsey has left the door open to a potential homecoming, however, with the Caerphilly-born star getting Bluebirds supporters very excited in a 2020 Q&A, while he was at Juventus.

Asked if he would ever return to his boyhood club, the midfielder simply answered: “They helped me become a professional footballer. So, why not? Who knows?"

While, of course, such a move is yet to materialise, fans will be buoyed by Ramsey's latest comments, which also saw him admit that he found being away from his family, who have been based in south Wales, "the most challenging thing" during his time at Nice.

Asked this week if being together with his family permanently would be the main driver behind his decision over what he does next, the 32-year-old replied: "Of course. I've been away from my family and seeing the kids growing up, missing out, it's always difficult. Difficult for anyone to go through, I imagine.

"Whatever we do going forward, we will be reunited and back together."

Ramsey's comments came as Wales and Cardiff legend Robert Earnshaw called on the Bluebirds to snap up the midfielder, describing it is an "amazing move" and a potentially "beautiful" chapter of the three-time FA Cup winner's career.

"Cardiff City should absolutely try and get him," he told the BBC. "He is a great, great player. I've played with him, so I know his qualities and who he is, he would contribute to Cardiff City. I think it would be an amazing move, but it's got to be a decision for him and his family.

"I know, being another Caerphilly boy, that he is, his decision is going to be very personal, because of the stage of the career he is at. But a Cardiff City move would be brilliant.

"I think they should absolutely go all out because, number one, he is brilliant and would help the club. Number two, he is brilliant. Number three, how beautiful it is that he would come full circle, kind of like I did, come back to Cardiff City after being away for so long and enjoy being at home at Cardiff City."

"It's going to be a big decision, a big few weeks," Earnshaw added. "I think he has pretty much made up his mind."

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