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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

Aaron Ramsey talks expected following Gareth Bale retirement as coach reveals his message to him

Rob Page says he does not expect Aaron Ramsey and other experienced Wales players to join Gareth Bale in retiring from football in the near future.

Head coach Page received a surprise phone call from Bale on Sunday and was told by the 33-year-old that he was calling time on his professional career.

It prompted concerns that others would follow suit, with players including Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Ramsey all being on the north side of 30 heading into this year's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

READ MORE: The shock phone call that ended Gareth Bale's career as legend offered new challenge

But Page is hopeful that Ramsey will continue to play a part for the Red Dragons this year. The former Arsenal man has only just returned to club Nice after an extended break away from the game following a difficult World Cup in Qatar.

"With regards to Aaron, I think he's still got a lot to give for Welsh football. I really do. That'd be my message to him when we have that conversation," explained Page.

"You look at the stats from the European qualifiers, from the World Cup qualifiers, from the World Cup itself, his stats on distance covered and sprints, he tops the table.

"There's still a lot of football to be played from Aaron's point of view and he's still a great player.

"Now, whether he can do that consistently in back-to-back games, that's another question. But I think he's still got a lot to offer. So I don't envisage now, two or three others doing the same (retiring), I don't.

"I did allude to that a while back about, as a group of senior players, they're conscious that they want that culture that's in that changing room to evolve with the next group, the next generation coming through. To do that, they want to be sympathetic as a group in how they manage that, and that's credit to themselves for even thinking that way."

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