Cole Palmer has been included in the final 80-man shortlist of nominees for the 2022 Golden Boy award.
City's young attacker could be set for a big season this term, but things could get even better as he stands a chance of scooping the prestigious award. The prize, founded by Italian publication Tuttosport, is one of the most coveted individual awards solely dedicated to players under the age of 21 in the men's game.
Palmer enjoyed something of a breakout season for City last term, scoring in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup as well as making four Premier League appearances.
Unfortunately, injuries post-Christmas limited the 20-year-old's first-team involvement in the second half of the season, but the recent departures of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus mean that he will be in line to receive some decent first-team minutes in 2022/23.
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The winner of the award will be chosen by journalists from a number of major newspapers across Europe, with the result set to be announced later this year.
Palmer, who has been on tour in the United States with City's first-team squad, has made the cut from 100 to 80 nominees, along with the likes of Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Barcelona duo Pedri and Gavi. Yan Couto is another City player who has made the list, although the Brazilian full-back has never made a competitive senior appearance for Pep Guardiola's side.
Mario Balotelli is the only City player to have ever won the award (he had been at City a few months when he scooped the prize in 2010), although Phil Foden was nominated in 2018, 2019 and 2020. However, there are plenty of other City links to be found among past winners.
Sergio Aguero won the prize in 2007, four years before he joined City, while Sterling won it in 2014, a year before he switched Anfield for the Etihad Stadium. City's new striker Erling Haaland won the award in 2020 after enjoying an explosive start to life at Borussia Dortmund.
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