GARETH BALE has been preparing for the Champions League final by FaceTiming his Wales pals in Portugal.
The Real Madrid superstar is chasing a FIFTH European Cup winner’s medal against Liverpool in Paris on Saturday.
The Champions League final could be Gareth Bale’s final game for Real Madrid Credit: AP
Wales keep Danny Ward is confident Bale will be raring to go when he arrives for international duty Credit: Alamy Bale, 32, was named in Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man final squad on Thursday.
The Wales captain has been chatting with Wayne Hennessey as his country warms up for their World Cup play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine on June 5.
When asked how Bale’s room-mate Hennessey was coping in his absence, Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward revealed: “He’s already had him on FaceTime a couple of times!”
The former Liverpool stopper knows all too well that Bale could write one final chapter with the Spanish giants.
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Get Liverpool at 30/1, or Real Madrid at 40/1 to win the Champions League title Ward was part of Jurgen Klopp’s squad for the 2018 final where Bale exploded off the bench to score twice, including a spectacular overhead kick.
The 28-year-old will have split loyalties for the Stade de France showdown and says he is not ‘too fussed’ on who becomes Kings of Europe.
But Ward added: “I still remember Gareth took away a winner’s medal of mine a few years ago in Kyiv where he came on and changed the game with a ridiculous overhead kick.
“It will be a good game, it will be interesting. It would be nice for Gareth to end his time with Madrid on a high.
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“We all know how much of a legend he is regardless of what is said over in Spain in terms of his time at Madrid. I’m looking forward to watching a good game of football.”
Bale is due to link up with Wales, who are on a week-long training camp in Lagos, Portugal before they fly to Poland for their Nations League opener on June 1.
Ward added: “In terms of Gareth, I don’t think it matters really whether he wins or loses. We will still get the same Gareth turning up to the camp. That’s just the way he is. It’s water off a duck’s back.
“Gareth is a top professional, great guy and something we have seen from the inside for a long period of time.”
Aaron Ramsey is in the squad, fresh from a mixed end to the season with Rangers after his Europa League final penalty shootout miss and Scottish Cup triumph.
Ward said: “He’s been absolutely fine. He’s been in and around the boys, he’s been training and done well. You have to remember he has also come in on the back of winning the Scottish Cup.
“With every disappointment there is a way of coming back and to come away with another winner’s medal in a cup competition is a great thing. Aaron is just Aaron. He’s fine.”
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Meet the Champions League final Wags from a doctor to a pop star and journalist Ward is fit again having missed Wales’ play-off semi-final victory over Austria in March following knee surgery.
The 24-cap star said: “Thankfully it’s all good. It was just a procedure I needed doing.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
