Cardiff lining up Gareth Bale transfer NEXT YEAR after Wales icon snubbed hometown club to join MLS side LAFC
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CARDIFF plan to launch a sensational bid for former Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale next summer.
Bale departed the Bernabeu on a free transfer earlier this month after nine trophy-laden years with the Spanish giants and was promptly snapped up by MLS outfit Los Angeles FC.
Cardiff were one of several clubs keen on signing up the five-time Champions League winner and plan to renew their interest in the city's local hero next summer.
Owner Vincent Tan told : "Cardiff owner Vincent Tan told talkSPORT: "His contract is for 12 months, let's see what happens.
"Maybe Gareth, by then, will probably want to come back and come home and serve his country, serve Cardiff, his hometown.
"He has never played in Cardiff, he and his family are fans of the club.
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"So, hopefully, in 12 months' time, he is still young, he will only be 34, some players come back and play until they are 40 years old.
"So he has still got a few years he can play and hopefully he will come and play for Cardiff after this [contract with LAFC finishes]."
Tan was relishing the prospect of bringing Bale, 32, back to his hometown club, adding: "We were very, very keen, he would have been a big coup for us.
"It would have been great for Gareth to play for his hometown, all the Welsh would be very happy if Gareth returned home and played for Cardiff.
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"Personally, I think LAFC's offer was too attractive for him to turn down. But originally he really wanted to come, the money wasn't the matter.
"We came up with what we thought was a good offer to him, but finally it was very hard to compete when there is a lot of big American advertisers, a lot of commercial deals which were very good for Gareth.
"Initially with Gareth, it wasn't really the money, he just wanted to help Cardiff and help Wales. That's why we could negotiate with him.
"He tried his best to join us but eventually I think the offer from LAFC was just too big to turn down. We tried our best but we failed."
Bale confirmed his stateside adventure on Monday and admitted he's relishing the next chapter of his career.
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He said: "I am extremely excited for this move to LAFC.
"This is the right place for me and my family and the right time in my career and I cannot wait to get started working with the team and getting ready to win more trophies in Los Angeles."
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