Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The PFA’s awards are considered prestigious by players because they are voted on by their fellow professionals. Arsenal star Bukayo Saka won the 2023 YPOTY award.
Before that, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Dele Alli won the award, which recognises the best-emerging talent.
The shortlist for this year’s award has been narrowed down to the ‘best six’ and Garnacho and Mainoo have been nominated, along with Michael Olise, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Saka, who is looking to become the first player since Foden to win consecutive YPOTY awards.
Garnacho and Mainoo have been exceptional for United and they were on the scoresheet in the stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley in May.
Erik ten Hag has been responsible for overseeing their development and Garnacho thought he’d scored the matchwinner at Wembley last weekend in the Community Shield.
Mainoo started against City, who won on penalties, on Saturday afternoon and he only returned to Carrington last week after representing England in the Euro 2024 final. Garnacho also represented Argentina at the Copa America this summer and his nation defended their title at the tournament.
Garnacho and Mainoo are considered indispensable at Old Trafford. Should one of the pair win the award, they would be the first United player to win YPOTY since Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo picked up the award in 2007 and Wayne Rooney, who is one of a handful of stars to have won back-to-back awards, won the prize two years running in 2005 and 2006.
Garnacho and Mainoo are expected to start the opening game of the Premier League season against Fulham and will continue to play an integral role in the first team.
