Wrexham’s latest signing Jay Rodriguez has spilled the beans on the heartwarming reception he got from club co-owner Ryan Reynolds.
The former Burnley ace, who took a step down from the Championship to join the Welsh football team, is now part of Wrexham‘s ambitious bid for a third consecutive promotion under the guidance of Phil Parkinson. With four games already under his belt, the 35-year-old striker shared how the Deadpool actor personally reached out with a video call to welcome him aboard after sealing the deal.
A self-confessed fan of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, Rodriguez expressed his excitement in an interview with the BBC. He said “I’ve followed it from afar. It’s been a great story to watch, and now to be part of it I feel very privileged.
“To be a part of this group, these players, staff, fans, this area, it’s really important. Ryan sent me a really nice message, which is just another touch from the club to make myself and my family feel welcome. The story and the journey the club have been on I really want to be a part of.”
Wrexham’s promotion dream hit a bump in the road after they were dealt a 2-1 loss by Leyton Orient at home on Tuesday. Yet seasoned pro Rodriguez, with over 250 top-tier matches and 46 Premier League goals to his name, remains undeterred and eager to secure promotion with Wrexham in his maiden voyage into England’s third tier.
“It would mean everything (to achieve that),” said Rodriguez. “It’s something that would go down in history and something I think the club deserves. It’s really important and I’m really enjoying being part of it, and that’s why I’ll continue to work to my full, maximum ability.
“It’s my first time at this level, but it’s full of quality. Teams make it difficult for you in different ways but you’ve seen by the goals we’ve scored that the quality is there.”
Rodriguez expressed his confidence in the squad, adding: “I’ve got every confidence in the group, and we have players and staff who want to keep improving. There’s definitely a togetherness and we have a lot to play for. I’m very optimistic.”
In another slice of team news, Wrexham’s Steven Fletcher recently shared a cheeky comparison between his teammate, midfielder Ollie Rathbone, and football legend Lionel Messi. The social media post came after Rathbone played a starring role in Wrexham’s recent 2-0 triumph over Northampton last Saturday, netting the second goal shortly after Sam Smith had put the Red Dragons in front.
Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
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Following the crucial victory, Fletcher showered his teammate with compliments. He took to Instagram, sharing a story that likened Rathbone’s goal celebration to that of Messi’s, accompanied by a caption saying: “Everything you have been saying makes sense now.”
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