Manchester City star nominated for prestigious award

Manchester City academy graduate Cole Palmer has been named in a list that features some of the best young players in Europe.

It comes as no surprise that Phil Foden is synonymous with the recognition of Manchester City’s academy as one of the best in England.

After all, the ‘Stockport Iniesta’ is one of the finest youngsters in Europe, one of City’s key players and an established England international at just 22 years of age.

However, another prospect from the Sky Blues’ youth system that is expected to hit similar heights is Cole Palmer.

While the Wythenshawe-born winger made his first-team debut for his boyhood club in 2020, it was last season where the teenager showcased why he has always been such a hot topic of conversation.

Despite getting limited minutes on the pitch for the first-team, the silky attacker managed to get on the scoresheet in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup respectively.

The youngster also helped Brian Barry-Murphy's side retain their Premier League 2 title, being directly involved in 12 goals in eight appearances.

Perhaps more interestingly, Guardiola entrusted Palmer to occupy the false nine role in his first-ever Premier League start against Everton, which indicates how highly the Spaniard rates the 20 year-old.

It is also widely claimed that the club were willing to sanction Ferran Torres’ sale to Barcelona, because they always believed that the 20-year old was a superior talent.

With there being plenty of factors to suggest why Cole Palmer is the real deal, it has now been confirmed that the starlet has been named in the 60-man shortlist for the 2022 Golden Boy Award.

The tricky wideman has been nominated alongside some of Europe’s most prodigious youngsters.

Nominees for this years awards include Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, Barcelona’s Pedri and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

The accolade, which first came to light in 2003 is organised by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, as votes are cast for some of the best young players under the age of 21 currently playing in Europe.

Former Manchester City players such as Raheem Sterling and Sergio Agüero took home the awards during their time at Liverpool and Atletico Madrid respectively.

Similarly, now-Sky Blues superstar Erling Haaland lifted the award in 2020 for Borussia Dortmund.

While it is unlikely that Cole Palmer will be crowned as the winner of the 2022 Golden Boy, the fact that he made the cut in the first place indicates that many within the game know that he is one to watch.