Real Madrid star Gareth Bale recalls fond memories of historic Cardiff Castle, the city’s peri-peri chicken and playing football in streets ahead of homecoming Champions League final

From Cardiff’s historic castle to his favourite peri-peri chicken restaurant in the Welsh capital, Gareth Bale is happy to be returning to his place of birth as Real Madrid eye yet more Champions League success, this time over Juventus.

In an exclusive video with Nissan, the ambassador says it “would be a dream come true” to help Los Blancos lift the Champions League trophy on Saturday night in his home city.

He said: “It’s a bit strange obviously. Growing up in Cardiff and just being a normal Cardiff boy….then seeing massive drawings on walls in the street of you.

“To host the UEFA Champions League Final will obviously boost the economy and everything else around Cardiff as well. The UEFA Champions League trophy is obviously the number one trophy to lift and to have all my friends and family in my home city, it really would be a dream come true.”

He also had some recommendations of where football fans heading to Cardiff this weekend might want to visit ahead of the match on Saturday night.

“Cardiff Castle is amazing. Then I think maybe just down in Cardiff Bay, there is a nice Nandos (restaurant) down there…so all good!”

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