Manchester United duo Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund nominated for Golden Boy award

Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund have been shortlisted for the 2023 Golden Boy award.

The Manchester United duo join the likes of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Gavi of Barcelona on the shortlist. The accolade recognises the best player under the age of 21 in European football within the last 12 months as voted for by football journalists from across the continent.

Garnacho, 19, has enjoyed a fantastic year for United, having made his full first-team debut in October before finishing the season with five goals and five assists. He finally earned his Argentina senior debut in June and has been called up again for this month’s internationals.

He signed a fresh five-year deal in April to secure his United future before swapping the No.49 for the No.17 shirt this season, becoming an ever-growing figure within Erik ten Hag’s set-up.

READ MORE: Garnacho had already given Sancho a major United problem

Meanwhile, summer signing Hojlund only made his United debut against Arsenal on Sunday but has shown lots of promise for both club and country over the past 12 months.

Amid finishing the season with 16 goals for former employers Atalanta, 20-year-old Hojlund has scored six times in as many Denmark caps which include five in two games back in March.

Wayne Rooney (2004) and Anthony Martial (2015) have both previously won the award since its inception in 2003. Raheem Sterling is the only other Englishman besides Rooney to have picked up the trophy.

As for this year’s shortlist, Levi Colwill, Harvey Elliott, Rico Lewis, Lewis Hall, Samuel Iling-Junior of Juventus and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens of Borussia Dortmund are the English representatives alongside favourite Bellingham.

The design team have