Real Madrid Legend Gareth Bale Steps in to Aid Taloverov’s Club Talks
An American-backed consortium has entered negotiations with Plymouth Argyle regarding a potential takeover of the club. According to The Telegraph, the group includes members of the Storch family, with Gareth Bale fronting the deal as its public face.
Sky Sports reports that initial discussions between the consortium and Plymouth’s management have already taken place, although no concrete steps have been made beyond this stage.
Plymouth’s chairman, Simon Hallett, has been actively seeking new investment this year. In March, he had given in-principle approval for selling a stake to new investors, but the deal collapsed in May.
Last month, Plymouth were relegated to League One after two seasons in the Championship, with their fate sealed by a home loss to Leeds in the final round of matches.
Should the acquisition proceed, Bale would join a growing list of high-profile sports figures involved with EFL clubs. For instance, in April, Bale’s former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modrić became a co-owner of Swansea City, while former NFL star quarterback Tom Brady holds a minority stake in Birmingham City.
Bale retired in January 2023 at the age of 33. During his illustrious career, he secured five Champions League titles with Real Madrid and stands as Wales’ all-time leading scorer, netting 41 goals in 111 appearances.
It’s also worth noting that last Friday, Plymouth appointed a new head coach—former Watford manager Tom Cleverley. The 35-year-old, who was dismissed from Watford in May, signed a three-year deal to replace Myron Musilich, who left Home Park last month to take charge at German side Schalke. Cleverley becomes Plymouth Argyle’s fifth permanent manager since December 2023.
