Gareth Bale Involved in Cardiff Takeover Rejected by Tan

Gareth Bale has emerged as a bidder hoping to gain control of Cardiff City, but saw his group’s proposal dismissed by the club’s current owner.

The former Wales captain, who called time on his playing career in early 2023, was part of a consortium that approached Vincent Tan in May with an offer for a controlling interest in the League One side. The attempt came shortly after Cardiff dropped out of the Championship.

Tan, the Malaysian businessman who has owned Cardiff since 2010, is understood to have shown little interest in selling and the proposal did not progress to any level of internal board discussion.

A club spokesperson declined to issue any comment on the reports, which began circulating late on Friday.

The 35-year-old five-time Champions League winner had previously been linked with a playing return to his hometown team before the 2022 World Cup. Instead, he joined MLS outfit Los Angeles FC.

Earlier this month, Bale was also connected to another acquisition bid — this time for League One rivals Plymouth Argyle — as part of a United States-based ownership group. That bid, too, received attention but was not finalized.

Cardiff’s managerial future is in focus after the recent appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy, who has been tasked with getting the side back up at the first attempt. Meanwhile, long-time Bluebirds figure Aaron Ramsey has left the club again, this time heading to Mexico.

Bale’s ongoing involvement in club ownership attempts suggests continued interest in the game beyond his playing days. Whether a return to his hometown club comes later by boardroom entry remains to be seen.