Manchester United duo nominated for Golden Boy prize

Manchester United's Swiss midfielder Anthony Elanga (L), Manchester United's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (2nd L), Manchester United's Ivorian midfielder Amad Diallo (2nd R) and Manchester United's Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek (R) high five ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 11, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Michael Regan / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United duo Anthony Elanga and Amad Diallo have been nominated for this year’s rendition of the Golden Boy award, with the winner crowned the most impressive U21 player in the world for the calendar year.

Previous winners include stellar names such as Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas whilst Anderson and Anthony Martial have won the award in the past.

Mason Greenwood and Amad were nominated for the prize last year and the latter has maintained his place in the 100-man shortlist, with starlet Anthony Elanga among the nominees this time around.

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The long list of players was revealed earlier on Wednesday by Italian publication Tuttosport, who established the award 19 years ago.

SN’s verdict…
Elanga emerged as the surprise package of the year for United, with the Sweden international becoming a favourite under Ralf Rangnick. Amad spent the last six months of the season at Rangers but despite his faltering form in Scotland, there are high hopes for the Ivorian.

The pair will be hoping to leave a lasting impression this summer as Erik ten Hag will be assessing both players later this month when he prepares his squad for pre-season.

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