Gareth Bale Rejects Offer to Come Out of Retirement, Join Wrexham

After a promotion to League 2, Wrexham AFC made a run at one of the game’s greats.

After Wrexham AFC earned promotion to the English Football League Two last weekend, the club made a run at retired soccer star Gareth Bale.

However, the 33-year-old Bale turned down the overtures from club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Earlier this week, Reynolds and McElhenney made their pitches to Bale after the Welsh star offered up his congratulations to Wrexham on for the club’s promotion.

“Let’s play golf, where I totally won’t spend 4 hours trying to convince you to un-retire for one last magical season,” McElhenney tweeted at Bale.

“I will shave a professional-grade golf course into Rob’s back if you’ll give Wrexham a season,” Reynolds added.

“Depends on what course,” Bale tweeted back.

Depends what course ⛳️… @RandA https://t.co/j4xHdXnAzs

— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) April 25, 2023

Despite the half-joking, half-serious tweets from the club owners, Bale turned down the offer. When asked about it at the FEVO Sport Industry Awards, Bale went into detail.

“No I don’t think so,” Bale said when asked if he would come out of retirement. “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 – spending a lot of time with my kids, my wife,” he added. “Time that I’ve lost so much of over the years being committed to football. I’m just enjoying family life and playing some golf.” 

Bale has been retired since January after winning five career Champions League titles with Real Madrid.