• European Football

Bale out of UEFA award shortlist

ESPN staff
August 6, 2013
Gareth Bale finished eighth in the voting © PA Photos
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Gareth Bale might be the subject of bid involving a world record transfer fee, but the Real Madrid target has failed to make the shortlist for UEFA's Best Player in Europe award.

Bale was one of the ten selected after the second round of voting, but fell out of the running when the ten was reduced to three - Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Bale's potential Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The winner will be decided after another round of voting, open to select journalists from UEFA's member associations, on August 29.

Robin van Persie, who scored 26 times to help Manchester United regain the title last season, was the only other Premier League player in the ten.

The inclusion of Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger meant four Bayern players made the original shortlist, while Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski and Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic made up the ten.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta picked up the award last year.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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