Gareth Bale follows up PFA awards double with another end of the season gong.
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Tottenham star Gareth Bale collected his second award of the season, with the Welsh winger following up his Players’ Player of the Year award with the Football Writer’s Footballer of the Year prize.
The 23-year-old has been in sensational form this season, aiding his club to a fight for a Champions League spot, and is the ninth Spurs player to win the gong, drawing them level with Manchester United on number of winners.
Bale beat off the likes of Robin van Persie and Juan Mata for the trophy, with the Dutchman and the Spaniard coming in second and third respectively.
This recognition of Bale’s individual displays will continue to fuel rumours of a move to a bigger club next season, with the likes of Real Madrid particularly willing to pay big money to lure him away from White Hart Lane.
The former Southampton man has 24 goals this season – his best ever tally – and has been compared with La Liga stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and hailed as one of the best players in the world. He could yet guide Spurs to Champions League football almost single-handedly, but it is not clear if that would be enough to persuade him to stay at the club.