PSG star Kylian Mbapee has been named the Golden Boy of the year, Italian newspaper Tuttosport confirmed on Monday. Mbappe won the award ahead of the likes of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and AC Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, joining the list of some well-known stars like Leo Messi, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Isco and Paul Pogba.
The French teenager joined Paris Saint-Germain following a summer loan move from Monaco that will possibly be made permanent at the end of the season on a record fee close to £160 million, making Kylian Mbappe the second most costly football player after attack partner Neymar.
The 18-year-old finished the season with 24 goals in all competitions. Mbappe made a significant contribution in Monaco’s title win last season as well as in reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. Since moving PSG this summer he has scored four goals in eight games for the Parisians. The addition of Mbappe in PSG’s squad is a matter of concern for European clubs as their attacking trio now has Cavani, Mbappe and world’s most expensive player Neymar.
The wonder kid was expected to be shadowed in PSG with the likes of Di Maria, Draxler and Lucas in the squad but ended up making them warm the bench. Signing of Mbappe has put Di Maria’s position in jeopardy as the 29-year-old is forcing a move away from The Parc des Princes.
Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele settled for the runners-up places ahead of Manchester United’s Rashford and Milan showstopper Donnarumma.
After having a fantastic season with Borussia Dortmund, Ousmane Dembele joined his dream club FC Barcelona for a record fee of £135m. However, things really didn’t work out as they were hoped. The 20-year-old got injured in his first La Liga game for his new club, and is now expected to join the rest of the team in early 2018.
Gabriel Jesus has netted six goals in Premier League this season for Manchester City. The 20-year-old scored in almost every game he played for City last season, still remembered for his first match against Spurs where he came on as a sub and made a difference in the dying minutes of the game, forcing Hugo Lloris to stay on his toes.
Journalists from across the world vote the prize, the nominees must play in a European nation’s top tier and be under the age of 21. The Golden boy Kylian Mbappe recieved 291 votes ahead of second-placed Ousmane Dembele who got 149 votes.
Mbappe is a player with great potential but let’s hope he’s not going to turn as another Anderson.