By Gareth James
Gareth Bale is poised to return to the Wales squad – but as a mentor, rather than a maestro on the field.
Wales manager Rob Page has held talks this week with Bale about a formal role that will tap into his vast knowledge and expertise, but will not involve coaching.
Bale is living in LA and has been playing a lot of golf since he retired from football in January, but Page has kept in regular contact and views the former captain as an asset on the route to qualification for Euro 2024.
The 33-year-old was offered a trip aboard the Wrexham bandwagon next season from Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, but turned them down.
“I have spoken to Gareth and I’m due to have another conversation with him,” said Page, whose team face crucial qualifiers at home to Armenia on June 16 and in Turkey three days later.
“He’s open to conversations and he wants to play a part in the future, but not from a coaching point of view. For me to have another voice from the outside watching things is beneficial.”
Bale led Wales to their first World Cup in 64 years last year and always admitted playing for his country was his number one priority, even though he won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
Page wants plenty of that attitude to rub off on some of the heirs to Bale’s crown such as Nottingham Forest striker Brennan Johnson.
The manager has also recruited Bale’s fellow centurion cap holder and former teammate Chris Gunter into the Wales coaching set-up.
Page said of Gunter, “The culture in the changing room is the most important thing. When I had him as a player, he was key to that.
“Gunts has come up and he’s a first-class lad. He’s doing his coaching badges, he’s great around the changing room and the lads love him to bits. He’s doing really well at the minute.
“We’ve just had a four-day camp with the under-21s and our EFL players and we’ve given him more responsibility with regards to the training sessions.
“He was never afraid to come to talk to the coaching staff and I still want that. He drives that for us.”
Wales Centurian Chris Gunter Ready To Find The Next Chris Gunter
Wales head to Portugal this week to prepare for their Euro 2024 double-header, with three key players nursing injuries.
Skipper Aaron Ramsey (calf), goalkeeper Danny Ward (dislocated finger) and Neco Williams (broken jaw) missed the final games of the season for their respective clubs.
But Page has been encouraged by his squad playing more Premier League minutes this term, a top-flight total of 251 appearances being 135 more than the previous campaign and the most since the 2016-17 season.
He said: “You want your best players playing at the top level because that will help us to compete against the top teams in Europe and the rest of the world.
“We need our players being exposed to the top teams, whether that’s in the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga or Serie A.
“Thankfully, we now have more of our Welsh players playing at the top level.”