Gareth Bale ' calls off wedding amid family turmoil and childhood sweetheart's rift with ex-con dad'

Football star Gareth Bale has called off his summer wedding to his childhood sweetheart amid a family rift, it is reported.

The Real Madrid winger, 29, was set to wed fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones, 26, at a glamorous ceremony at an Italian castle.

But a family source claims Emma wants more time to heal her relationship with her former jailbird dad Martin Rhys-Jones, 54.

She and Gareth are said to have experienced a "rollercoaster" year.

"There's so much family turmoil right now - they want things to settle down before tying the knot, a source told The Sun .

"They are still very much in love but they've had a lot of issues to deal with/"

The engaged couple, who grew up together in Cardiff, Wales, have reportedly postponed their wedding until 2019.

It is claimed they also hope a drugs feud which has engulfed Emma's family will die down if they push back their nuptials.

The bride-to-be fell out with her father Martin after he allegedly moved in with a Russian florist half his age within weeks of being freed from jail in the US.

He served six years for a £2million international fraud.

It was earlier claimed that Emma had banned her dad from attending the wedding after they had an "almighty row" over his new relationship.

A source told the Sun: "There have been ructions - Emma isn't happy with her dad.

Source: Mirror