Gareth Bale's next move will be the talk of Wales over the coming weeks. With the superstar's contract expiring at Real Madrid this summer, Cardiff City is among the list of possible next destinations.
Of course, Bluebirds fans don't want to get ahead of themselves before there is any sort of confirmation. For example, a car with a suggestive number plate, GB11 GAR , sat outside Cardiff City Stadium at the weekend and sent social media into a frenzied euphoria for a short period, before it was confirmed that it was not Bale's vehicle hours later.
But that is where we are at right now. Everything is under lock and key, cards are being held tightly to the chest and all options are on the table at the minute, it seems.
So, how did we get to this point? And is Bale to Cardiff really that outlandish an idea? We trawl through everything that has been said by Bale and those around him to try and piece together just where we are at with this potentially astonishing transfer...
READ MORE : New top-flight club linked with move for Gareth Bale
I always look out for Cardiff's results - Bale himself
The 32-year-old has been typically coy on divulging too much regarding his future in recent times. Back in March, when on Wales duty, was the last time he was quizzed on what he planned do when his Los Blancos contract finished in June.
“I haven’t thought about that at all, since we knew we were going to be in this situation, my sole focus has been on this," he said at the time.
“I know that thinking of the future can cause doubts in your mind so I’ve not been thinking about that, I’ve just been focusing on this game coming up. Whatever happens in the future I’ll decide in the future.”
And what about his allegiance to Cardiff? He is a Cardiff boy, of course, having been born and raised in Whitchurch, but never played for the club. However, he has made his love for the Bluebirds known at points throughout his career. Cardiff boss Steve Morison even revealed that Bale told him to make sure they beat Swansea City in the most recent South Wales Derby. Plus his uncle, Chris Pike, is a City hero for those of a certain vintage.
In a back and forth with Tottenham's Joe Rodon, a former Swansea City player, Bale said: "Cardiff's a bigger club, I said, because they've won the FA Cup. He [Joe] obviously disagrees because he's a Swan, but then he'll go to me 'you've never played for Cardiff'."
It's at this point Rodon chimes in: "They can't claim you. Cardiff cannot claim him."
Bale then weighed in by confirming he is a Cardiff fan: "Of course I'm from Cardiff, and I support Cardiff, but I'm a Welshman. I try to unite both if it's even possible."
Trawling back a little further to 2019, Bale, in a BT Sport video, held a retro Bluebirds shirt from 1995/96, emblazoned with that iconic South Wales Echo badge. He said of Cardiff at the time: "It's where I grew up and my uncle actually used to play for them.
"When I was younger I went to watch a few games and obviously Cardiff is my home city. I always look out for Cardiff wherever I am, check the scores and check they're doing well."
Cardiff move has a lot of plusses - agent Jonathan Barnett
Jonathan Barnett, Bale's agent, is usually the more vocal when it comes to the player and his next move. That has certainly been the case in recent weeks as rumours gyre around the Wales talisman.
Last week, while speaking to Portuguese publication the Daily Record, Barnett confirmed that a return to the UK was likely. With other sides in Spain reported to be interested, as well as clubs in the MLS in America, it was a big step in narrowing the pool of clubs the player might join.
Barnett said: "He leaves Real Madrid, but we have to wait for what Wales will be able to do [on June 5]. It all depends on whether Wales qualify for the World Cup, then we will make a decision, which may vary whether or not Wales go to the World Cup.
"Is it more likely to return to England? I think so, but we'll have to wait and see if Wales qualify for the World Cup."
However, in a far more wide-ranging and exclusive interview with WalesOnline, Barnett gave credence to a possible move to Cardiff City this summer, stating that a return to his hometown club "has a lot of plusses" and will not be contingent on the player's wage.
Barnett revealed: "What Gareth does next is not about money. It will be solely about what he wants to do at this stage of his career, where he wants to be.
"Finance will not come into this. He's already extremely wealthy. Gareth is probably the richest footballer Britain has produced. In any case, no club on earth would be able to pay what he's on at the moment. Gareth realises that. Money is not important to him.
"It will be down to where he wants to play, a personal choice - but only after the Wales games are out of the way."
Asked specifically if Cardiff was a credible option for Bale, Barnett replied: "Who knows? We'll look and see in due course. But I repeat there are no options on the table at the moment.
"Cardiff has a lot of plusses. He's from Wales, his family are from there. From a personal point of view it could appeal. But I emphasise this is me talking, my views, not Gareth's. I have not discussed it with him."
It ticks the boxes - Bale's Wales boss Rob Page
Bale's manager at international level, Rob Page, has also been asked about his captain's future and a potential move to Cardiff City. Indeed, the Wales boss' thoughts elicited an excitable response from Bluebirds fans.
"If he was playing for Cardiff and we had qualified for the World Cup I wouldn't change my thoughts or respect for Gareth whatsoever," he said last week. "He would definitely be a part of the World Cup squad anyway. As long as he is out playing football - that's the most important thing for us."
When asked if he understood why the links with City have persisted, Page added: "Yeah, absolutely. It ticks all the boxes. Ultimately, it’s Gareth’s decision and Cardiff City’s. And I think he’s [his agent's] right to say ‘Let’s throw full focus on to the 5th'. Let’s get there first and have that discussion.
“We can carry on talking about it and guess and have our opinion on it, and it does make sense. It makes a lot of sense. He can base himself at a training ground he’s familiar with.
“Ultimately, let’s see what happens on the 5th and I’ll probably be the first one after the game to ask the question! But we have other games. We have a tough month, we've got Holland a few days later. Full focus will be on the month.
"I will put no pressure on Gareth whatsoever. It's over to him and his family and he will make the best decision for him."
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We're ready to listen - Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman
Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman did little to dampen the idea of Bale signing for City. He confirmed the Bluebirds' stance with speculation linking Bale and Cardiff refusing to go away despite the obvious financial gulf in what the player is used to be being paid and what the club could afford.
Dalman told BBC Radio Wales last month : "I have nothing to add [on Bale] to what you already know. Gareth Bale is going to do what Gareth Bale wants and we are willing listeners with open arms if he chooses to do that."
It'd boost everybody - Bluebirds manager Steve Morison
The Cardiff City manager has seemingly become warmer to the idea as time has worn on. When links initially emerged back in March and April, Morison was keen to downplay the prospect of City landing Wales' greatest-ever footballer this summer.
"Until someone rings me and actually says that is an option - it’s not something I will worry about," Morison said at the start of April ahead of the South Wales derby.
"Until someone rings me and says Gareth Bale wants to join Cardiff then it’s an absolute pipe dream - nothing to worry about. Otherwise you're going to get caught up in something that could be absolute nonsense.
"I saw him every day he was here in Wales camp, I said 'hello' to him every day, all he said to me was ‘Make sure you beat Swansea!’, that's the only comment he made to me. Outside of that there’s been no conversation about that. I'm not someone who is going to get caught up in something that is – at the minute – a fantasy."
However, five weeks later, Morison was a lot more receptive and far less dismissive of the prospect when asked again by WalesOnline about Bale making Cardiff City Stadium his home ground for club and country next term.
In response to Dalman's comments, outlined above, Morison said earlier this month : "Who wouldn't be? Is there anyone who wouldn't be a willing listener?!" he laughed. "I'm not going to go and get Gareth Bale's number and ring him and say, 'Oh, by the way, do you want to come and join Cardiff?'
"It's an absolute no-brainer. It would be great. It would be a great boost for everybody. But if it did happen, he would have to come and be part of the change. He would have to come and fit in and buy into it.
"I'm sure if anything like that was going to happen then me and him would have a chat because there would be a lot to talk about. One of them would be making sure [the press] don't find out about it!"
