Wrexham star Jacob Mendy ‘dreaming’ of playing with Gareth Bale next season

Reynolds and McElhenney join Wrexham players on bus parade

Wrexham has not given up hope of convincing Gareth Bale to come out of retirement by joining the newly-promoted Red Dragons. And defender Jacob Mendy has been contemplating the prospect of lining up alongside the former Welsh international next season.

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have reversed the fortunes of the North Wales club after completing a takeover in 2021. Phil Parkinson’s side won the National League with a record 111 points, ending a 15-year exile from the Football League.

And with massive focus now thrown onto the traditional working-class club thanks to its famous owners and hugely successful Disney+ series ‘Welcome To Wrexham’, Reynolds and McElhenney have tried to convince ex-Real Madrid star Bale to dust off his boots and join the Wrexham revolution.

Wales’ most capped player has moved to try and shut down suggestions that he will come out of retirement but that has not deterred McElhenney. And talk of Bale coming to Wrexham has certainly whetted the appetite of wing-back Mendy. The 26-year-old made 30 appearances during the Dragon’s title-wining campaign after making the switch from National League rivals Borehamwood last summer.

But he could never have even contemplated the prospect of lining up alongside a global superstar such as Bale when he made the move and that has led him to wondering who else could arrive at the Racecourse Ground next season.

Speaking to Gianluca Di Marzio (as per football.london), he said: “It would be a dream to play with him, I would love to. But I don’t know if it will ever come true, I don’t think so. Although there have been several surprises here. I would love to play with Pique.”

Meanwhile, addressing Bale directly in an interview for The Aarthi and Sriram Show, McElhenney said: “Gareth, okay listen, it’s just me and you talking for a second.

“I know that Southern California is beautiful and I know, I’m from Philadelphia and I’ve lived here for many, many years but you’re a young man and you have the rest of your life to live wherever you want. If you could just come back from one last year of glory, one last year. I believe your nation, the nation of Wales, could do the right thing. Call me.”

Barcelona great Gerard Pique is another star who would need some convincing. The 2010 World Cup winner retired from the game last year. But Wrexham have already shown what is possible after convincing goalkeeper Ben Foster to come out of retirement. The ex-England international would go on to make a telling contribution, saving an injury-time penalty against Notts County that effectively wrapped up the National League title.

Bale’s own comments do not give any indication that he has had his head turned. He said: “No I don’t think so. 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. I’m spending a lot of time with my kids, my wife, time that I’ve lost so much over the years being committed to football. I’m just enjoying family life and playing some golf.”

But McElhenney is well versed in Hollywood endings and is continuing to hold a positive outlook. He told S4C: “I think there’s seriousness from our side, but I don’t know that there’s seriousness from his. I think he’s happy. I’m also weirdly happy for him to do exactly what he wants to do with his life.

“He’s given up so much for a sport that he loves. It’s fun, though. I like that we can kind of do some stuff that’s a little outside the box of convention when it comes to goofing around. I didn’t think Ben Foster would be coming over and he did.”

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