Garnacho nominated for Golden Boy award
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho has been included on the 100-strong list of youngsters competing for the Golden Boy award, a prize presented to the best Under-21 player based in Europe.
The Argentina international, who has now made two senior appearances for the world champions, enjoyed a marvellous campaign for the Reds, scoring five goals and providing real menace and purpose down the left flank for Erik ten Hag's men.
After returning from injury, he was soon back in top form at the end of the season and was unlucky not to equalise in the Emirates FA Cup final with Manchester City, after coming on as a substitute to pep up the attack.
He was rewarded with a new long-term contract in April and will aim to show he can become a regular starter in 2023/24.
The global launch of the 2023 award took place in Milan on Tuesday, with 33 different countries represented - Alejandro is one of five Argentinians on the list.
RB Salzburg is the club with the highest number of nominees on the list with five, one more than FC Copenhagen and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Garnacho is among 12 players selected from the Premier League.
Established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003, the trophy is based on a jury of journalists, with the shortlist gradually whittled down before revealing the victor.
Barcelona's Gavi is the current holder, while Wayne Rooney, Anderson, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are among the former winners.
There is a data element this year through a collaboration with Football Benchmark, which supplies an index, ranking Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala at the top ahead of Real Madrid new boy Jude Bellingham and Gavi.
This index will help inform the choice of the Golden Boy 'Absolute Best' by the European journalists further down the line.
The full list of 100 players can be found at europeangoldenboy.com.