Gareth Bale-led consortium bids to buy Cardiff City rejected

Gareth Bale, the former Wales captain and Real Madrid star, is leading a consortium that made a formal approach to buy his hometown club Cardiff City, which was recently relegated to League One. Bale’s group sent a letter of intent to current owner Vincent Tan, including financial terms, but the proposal was rejected, though Bale’s interest remains strong. This potential takeover follows Bale’s retirement from professional football in January 2023 after a stint with LAFC, and his ongoing desire to stay involved in football through ownership. Bale’s bid for Cardiff contrasts with earlier speculation linking him to Plymouth Argyle, which has since been dismissed. The move mirrors a trend of high-profile athletes entering English football ownership, with Bale’s former teammate Luka Modric recently acquiring a stake in Cardiff’s rivals Swansea City, and other sports stars like Tom Brady and Jordan Spieth investing in EFL clubs. Cardiff has appointed Brian Barry-Murphy as head coach as the club prepares for its first season in the third tier since 2003.