Bale-led consortium makes approach to buy Cardiff City as they seek to buy the club from unpopular owner Vincent Tan.
Gareth Bale-led consortium submits offer to buy Cardiff from Vincent Tan.
A group led by Gareth Bale has made a bid to purchase his hometown team, Cardiff City. The former Wales and Real Madrid player thinks he is the best person to help Cardiff recover from their relegation to League One, which saw the team fall into the third division for the first time since 2002–2003.
Although Bale and his team are awaiting word from Vincent Tan, the owner of Cardiff, they think their offer is reasonable and serious, and they are hopeful that it will be approved. Although it is unclear how much Tan is willing to sell the club or how much he thinks it is worth, the Malaysian billionaire has committed more than £200 million since purchasing it in 2010.
Bale explained his plans to purchase Cardiff, calling a potential acquisition “a dream come true.” After a successful playing career, the 35-year-old former forward retired in 2023, saying We are interested in getting Cardiff. It’s my home club, it’s where I grew up and my uncle [Chris Pike] used to play for them. To be involved with an ownership group would be a dream come true.
“It is a club close to my heart and I would love to be able to be a part of growing Cardiff and taking it to the Premier League where it belongs. I know how amazing the Welsh fans and Cardiff fans are. It would be amazing to try and do something together. We are trying to engage with Cardiff and more news will come out on that in the future, but hopefully we can get something done.”
Although the composition of Bale’s group is uncertain, US investors are believed to be among them. Tan reportedly rejected an early approach from Bale’s consortium last month. Cardiff has been contacted for a response.
Towards the end of his playing career, just before the 2022 World Cup, Bale, who won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid, was linked to a move to Cardiff. Los Angeles FC was where he concluded his club career in the United States.