Aaron Ramsey bleaches hair for Wales' Euro 2016 campaign

Aaron Ramsey has bleached his hair blond for Euro 2016

Aaron Ramsey has bleached his hair blond for Euro 2016 but insists he would much rather make a statement on the pitch in France.

Ramsey shocked his Wales team-mates in training this week and has been told that he looks like a member of the Romanian team from the 1998 World Cup .

The Arsenal midfielder insists the likes of Dan Petrescu and Gheorghe Hagi were not his motivation for the change but he wants to make an impact in a major tournament in a similar way to those impressive players.

Ramsey says he 'just fancied a change' to his hair colour

He said: "There's no significance to it - I just fancied a change. I have been contemplating it for a while and just thought, 'Yeah, why not?'."

"It was a bit of a shock to some of my team-mates.

Romania's players famously dyed their hair blond at the 1998 World Cup

"But a lot of them are saying they are having it now. I have had a bit of that [about the Romanians] but I don't look at those things on social media.

"I want to make an impression on the field. That is my main target, to help Wales get out of the group stages, and then see where we go from there.

Ramsey was joined by Gareth Bale in training this week

"It was one of the biggest targets in my career to help Wales to a major championship and I've finally achieved that.

"For me personally I've played in some big games, but everybody's eyes will be on this tournament.

Ramsey says he wants to 'prove' that he can play at the highest level

"I want to show that I'm more than capable of standing up and proving I can play at this level."

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale finally joined the Wales squad his week, having been granted extra time to recover after winning the Champions League.

Bale was given extra time off after the Champions League final

The 26-year-old trained on Wednesday after a severe bout of cramp, and Ramsey said: "He is good. He has overcome his cramp, and is looking forward to it.

"It is a great achievement, winning two Champions Leagues. He is still only young as well, so maybe there might be many more for him. I am delighted he won it and he came back fit."