Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has reiterated his desire to see former Wales and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale come out of retirement to play for the newly promoted League One side. Despite Bale retiring from football in January 2023, McElhenney is keeping the “offer on the table” in hopes of luring the 34-year-old back to the pitch.
McElhenney, who alongside fellow actor Ryan Reynolds took over Wrexham in February 2021, expressed his willingness to accommodate Bale’s golfing interests, offering flexibility to ensure the former star could still play golf. “Gareth Bale is still technically available! I made the plea last year, and I’m just going to tell Gareth that the offer’s still on the table. We’ll let you off for golf whenever you need to get off. As long as you come to training once or twice a week, we can figure out how to get you 10 minutes on the pitch,” said McElhenney. “And the golf courses – Wales is amongst the most beautiful countries in the world!”
Bale retired after a successful career that included five Champions League titles with Real Madrid and a record 41 goals in 111 appearances for Wales. However, McElhenney remains hopeful that the Cardiff-born forward might don Wrexham colours.
McElhenney’s efforts to sign high-profile players don’t stop with Bale. Speaking at London Stadium on Sunday, where he threw the first pitch during a Philadelphia Phillies game against the New York Mets, McElhenney mentioned ongoing discussions with Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson about potential new signings. One such target is goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who played a crucial role in Wrexham’s recent promotion campaign while on loan from Arsenal, making 36 League Two starts and keeping 13 clean sheets.
“There’s a very good chance [of signing him]. We’re talking to Arthur actively right now; we know he wants to come back to Wrexham, and we definitely want him. It’s just about working out the right deal that works for everybody,” McElhenney explained.
While Reynolds and McElhenney have plans to expand Wrexham’s SToK Racecourse home to a 55,000-seat stadium, McElhenney emphasized a pragmatic approach to the club’s growth. “That’s what we’re talking about now in the very short off-season, seeing how we can maybe get it done again next year. We just look at it from season to season. Our goal is to field the best club we can on the pitch next year and continue to work with the community to give them what they need and what they’ve been asking for.”
The popularity of “Welcome to Wrexham,” the documentary series chronicling the club’s journey, has contributed to the excitement, with several dates on the Red Dragons’ upcoming North America tour already sold out. While McElhenney remained tight-lipped about the finale of the third season, which covers the recent campaign, he hinted, “I can give away that it’s a happy ending.”