Gareth Bale Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney Wrexham

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‘Do the right thing!’ - Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney makes fresh bid to lure ex-Real Madrid star Gareth Bale out of retirement

Rob McElhenney has launched a fresh bid to try and lure Gareth Bale out of retirement, with Wrexham’s co-owner urging him to “do the right thing”.

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WHAT HAPPENED? The former Real Madrid and Tottenham star star hung up his boots in January after savouring MLS Cup glory with LAFC in 2022. That decision came as a surprise to many, with the ex-Wales international still just 33 years of age. Wrexham, fresh from their promotion back to the Football League, have been trying to tempt the five-time Champions League winner back to his homeland, with McElhenney inviting Bale for a round of golf while Ryan Reynolds has been asking “what if…” on social media.

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WHAT THEY SAID: McElhenney is refusing to throw in the towel, with the ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ star telling The Aarthi and Sriram Show: “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 for one last year of glory, one last year. I believe your nation, the nation of Wales, could do the right thing. Call me.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Bale is aware of Wrexham’s efforts to make him a marquee addition at the Racecourse Ground, but has said of McElhenney’s pleas: “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.”

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