GARETH BALE will travel 5,000-plus miles to wave goodbye to his adoring Wales fans tonight.
The Dragons legend, 33, retired in January after winning 111 caps and scoring 41 goals for his beloved country.
Bale will jet in from Los Angeles for the crunch Euro 2024 qualifier against Latvia in Cardiff.
The Football Association of Wales announced yesterday the nation’s all-time most-capped male player and record scorer Bale will be honoured with a special memento in front of the ‘Red Wall’ pre-match.
The FAW tweeted from their official account: “Gareth Bale will be at the Cardiff City Stadium.
“There will be an opportunity pre-match for The Red Wall to show their appreciation to a Cymru legend.”
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Wales have not played at home since former captain Bale hung up his boots following the World Cup where his final appearance came in a 3-0 group stage loss to England last November.
In their first match without Bale, debutant Nathan Broadhead rescued a last-gasp stunning point in Saturday’s Group D opening draw in Croatia.
Now a sell-out 33,000-capacity crowd is expected and ready to raise the roof to give hero Bale a warm send-off.
The FAW say Joe Allen and Jonny Williams, who have also retired since Qatar, have both been invited and will also be in attendance.
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Chris Gunter became the fourth Welsh player from the 2022 World Cup squad to end his international career earlier this month. But the 109-cap defender is part of Robert Page’s coaching staff.
Bale has been enjoying his retirement in America and posted on Instagram that he went to concerts by Maroon 5 and Adele in Las Vegas over the weekend.
But Wales’ talisman for so long gave the seal of approval at Saturday’s result in Split when he posted after the match: “Felt strange not to be involved today but proud of the boys. Great result.”
Bale’s successor as captain Aaron Ramsey, 32, will lead Wales out for the first time in Cardiff since he was reappointed national skipper for the second time.
The Nice midfielder, who wore the armband in Croatia, will have his eldest of three sons Sonny, 7, as his mascot.
Former Arsenal and Juventus star Ramsey, who revealed last week how proud his family were after he reclaimed the captaincy, said: “My eldest son will be coming and walking out with me – it will make it extra special.
“He has been really excited. He was captain for his local team Cardiff Cosmos on Saturday as well, so that made it a bit more special. I’m looking forward to it. It will be a proud moment for me.
“There will be a lot of emotions. I will be in front of my family and friends. To be in front of the Red Wall will be very special.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
