Gareth Bale (foto: Getty Images)
Gareth Bale is leading a consortium to buy Cardiff City after an initial offer was rejected. The Welsh legend is determined to invest in his hometown club as they prepare for League One.
Gareth Bale could soon become the latest sporting superstar to invest in English football after reports confirmed he is leading a consortium to buy Cardiff City.
According to The Athletic, the Welsh icon has already made an official approach to owner Vincent Tan through a letter of intent, though the initial proposal was rejected. Still, Bale is reportedly determined to pursue a deal and remains deeply interested in acquiring a stake in his hometown club.
Cardiff City, who were relegated from the Championship last season, are preparing for their first campaign in League One since 2003. A successful takeover by Bale could significantly impact the club’s finances, reputation, and long-term future, echoing the high-profile success stories of Wrexham and Birmingham City following their superstar-led revivals.
Notably, Bale turned down a chance to join Cardiff as a player in 2022 following his exit from Real Madrid. Instead, he opted for a short stint in MLS with Los Angeles FC, before retiring from professional football in early 2023. Now, the 34-year-old seems ready to return to the game in a different role — as an owner and public figure at the heart of a new era for the Bluebirds.
Bale’s interest comes just weeks after his former Madrid teammate Luka Modric became a minority investor in Cardiff’s bitter rivals Swansea City, setting the stage for a potential rivalry with added star power off the pitch.
The potential change in ownership comes as new manager Brian Barry-Murphy prepares to lead Cardiff into a League One campaign where promotion is the clear objective. However, they will do so without veteran Aaron Ramsey, who has left the club and is close to signing for Mexican side Pumas UNAM.
Should Bale return with a revised offer, Cardiff fans could soon see one of their most beloved national heroes at the helm of the club — not as a player, but as an owner determined to help restore pride and purpose.