GARETH BALE shared a touching moment with a delighted supporter after visiting a Welsh CHIPPY.
Bale, 34, retired from football in January 2023, after appearing at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
His busy post-retirement life has seen him compete at various golf tournaments, spend more time in LA, and attend NBA games.
But to the delight of local fans, he has travelled back to Wales and picked up a takeaway from a shop just five miles away from his sprawling countryside mansion.
Despite his prior athlete status, the Real Madrid icon dropped by Big Sam's chippy in Pontyclun for a bite to eat with a couple of pals.
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The shop shared a heartwarming photo on social media of Bale with Raj Aulakh, a member of the owner's family and an avid football fan.
The caption said: "A Welsh institution visits another Welsh institution!
"Today at Big Sam's we had the absolute pleasure of serving this lovely gent.
"Not only was Bale kind enough to take pictures with some of us in the shop, but he also came into the flat to take a picture with Raj.
"He couldn't have been a lovelier bloke and we hope to see him again soon."
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Raj, 39, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, told the Wales Online that the footballer was "genuinely interested" in meeting him.
He added: "We were like - 'you're having a laugh'. Why would he be in Pontyclun of all places?
"My sister said 'it is actually him! It's either a very good lookalike, or it's actually him'."
Raj explained his mother didn't even recognise the former Spurs player immediately, and served him as a regular customer.
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Just seven days ago, Bale was courtside for the Lakers' loss to the Golden State Warriors, where he linked up with Stephen Curry post-game.
