Gareth

A future that, he says, has always intrigued him – and perhaps not dissimilar to David Beckham.

Like Bale, the English icon was his nation’s footballing figurehead and could have had his pick of post playing jobs, before ending up a co-owner of MLS franchise Inter Miami as part of various business interests.

Was that route an influence?

“I think so; a lot of American athletes do that type of thing and I would read about it and listen to interviews about what they’ve done,” says Bale, whose old Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric has become a minority investor in Swansea City.

“A lot of players still go down the coaching route, management or even with younger players at academies.

“But you are seeing more players being a bit more business minded. Maybe because we’ve done so much on one side, this side becomes a new chapter, a new world.

“It always really interested me, but I didn’t really have the opportunity before being introduced to John.”

The John who could help Bale build it like Beckham is experienced US investor John Shulman, founder of private equity firm Juggernaut Capital.

The company is said to have $1bn in capital commitments and had already been investing in various sport businesses – from golf courses and volleyball to “thrill” sports – but sensed an opportunity, especially when it came to Europe and the UK.

Shulman says he wanted to bring on board “an elite, iconic athlete” to help launch a sports specific investment platform – Juggernaut Diversified Sports – ready to invest more than £500m.

And after an introduction – and, naturally, a round of golf – found one.

“There is only a small number of human beings on the planet who have done what Gareth has done,” Shulman says.

“We’re good investors, but what we lacked is the mindset, experience, drive and unique perch Gareth does.

“I mean, the guy has got it all. What he can do on the pitch, I’ve seen him do in the boardroom metaphorically. So I have nothing but excitement about [our plans], doing it at the right time and the right place and the right way.”

Coronation Street actor Gareth Pierce has been playing Todd Grimshaw since 2020, but fans were shocked to discover his real accent

Coronation Street’s Gareth Pierce is well known for his portrayal of Todd Grimshaw, yet in real life, he sounds remarkably different.

Gareth, 45, rose to prominence when he joined the Corrie cast in 2020 as Todd Grimshaw, stepping into the role previously held by Bruno Langley, who departed the show in 2017.

Over the past six years on the long-running soap, Todd has been at the centre of some heartbreaking storylines, including the deaths of his closest friends Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) and Paul Foreman (Peter Ash).

Last year, Todd embarked on a relationship with dashing scaffolder Theo Silverton (James Cartwright), who was already married with two children.

Theo, who had kept his sexuality a secret, found himself ostracised by his family when his wife Danielle (Natalie Anderson) uncovered his affair with Todd, reports the Daily Star.

Despite initially pulling away from Todd to concentrate on his family, the pair quickly rekindled their romance, though the road has been far from smooth.

Matters took a darker turn when James Bailey (Jason Callender) drunkenly attempted to kiss Todd at number eleven, prompting Theo to deliver a stark warning. He has since continued to tighten his grip on every aspect of his boyfriend’s life.

For months, Theo has been subjecting Todd to both mental and physical abuse in a deeply disturbing domestic violence storyline. Most recently, Theo launched a brutal attack on Todd, leaving him bloodied and battered in deeply distressing scenes.

The funeral director has been quietly struggling for months, with Todd’s nearest and dearest beginning to notice that something isn’t quite right. Regrettably, their concern about his wellbeing has driven the scheming Theo to resort to increasingly extreme measures.

Theo manipulated Todd into walking down the aisle with him, but his sinister plans didn’t stop there. The conniving villain subsequently schemed to spirit his new husband away to Belfast, far from his loved ones and support network.

Todd informed Theo that he wasn’t prepared to relocate, prompting the villain to confiscate his phone and hold him captive. As a Weatherfield resident is set to meet a grisly end in an upcoming whodunnit, could Theo be next in line?

Away from the Manchester-based soap, Gareth has left fans stunned after revealing his real-life accent. Last year, he took to Instagram to wish the Welsh women’s football team well as they competed in the Euros.

Sporting a Welsh football shirt, Gareth, who hails from Gwynedd in Wales, said: “Massive week ahead in the Women’s Euros. Wales and England both playing today, but also playing each other on Sunday. Big showdown. Obviously, I’m shouting for Wales.”

Speaking in Welsh, he added: “Good luck, Wales. Let’s go. Come on, Wales!”

Soap devotees were left gobsmacked after watching the clip, as Todd’s Mancunian accent on Coronation Street is worlds apart from Gareth’s natural Welsh lilt.

Flocking to the comments, one viewer wrote: “You learn something new every day. Did not know he was Welsh”, while another added: “Love the slight Welsh accent.

“Didn’t know you were Welsh”, a third chimed in as another exclaimed: “Didn’t know he was welsh c’mon Cymru.”

“Are you Welsh, mate?” asked one fan while another stated: “Mind blown!”

Coronation Street airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX