2016 Golden Boy: Renato Sanches Wins the Gong Ahead of Marcus Rashford

The 19-year-old Portuguese prodigy has been handed the 2016 Golden Boy award, after receiving 20 out of 30 votes from journalists.

(Image credit: beIN Sports)

Renato Sanches’s performances over the previous season have earned him the 2016 Golden Boy award, which saw him beat other impressive, young talents across the continent: Kingsley Coman, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marcus Rashford, Alex Iwobi and Dele Alli among others.

Out of 30 journalists that voted during the process, Sanches received two-thirds of the votes which effectively crowned him the 2016 Golden Boy by some distance compared to some other players on the list.

The full list: pic.twitter.com/yaavEwokVg

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) 24. listopada 2016.

“I’m beaming, this award has a global significance. But I am down to earth, I have much to learn mainly from my fantastic team-mates such as Vidal, Xabi, Tiago and Kimmich. I dedicate the Golden Boy to my family,” commented the 2016 Golden Boy.

When asked what club will lift the Champions League trophy in Cardiff this season, Sanches gave a straightforward and obvious response – his club, Bayern Munich.

“The Champions League? Bayern will win, there is no debate: we are the strongest team on the planet.” And rightfully so; the 2016 Golden Boy mentioned only a few of the stars that he shares the locker room with, but he left out the likes of goalmachine Lewandowski, the experienced Lahm, the attacking duo ‘Robbery’ and the attack-minded goalkeeper Neuer.

More importantly, all these players are being managed by Carlo Ancelloti – the man that won Europe’s elite competition on three occasions in the span of nine years (Milan: 2003 + 2007, Real Madrid: 2014). With his great experience and the players that he has under him, they should finally achieve what his predecessor Pep Guardiola couldn’t since Jupp Heynckes’ treble success in 2013.

Along with 2015 champions Barcelona 4.00 (3/1), the Bavarian side are favourites 4.33 (10/3) to lift the Champions League trophy this season, while defending champions Real Madrid are third on the list with odds of 6.50 (11/2).

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