Balotelli gets the Golden Boy Award

The Italian striker Mario Balotelli has been awarded yesterday with the Golden Boy award for best European soccer player under 21. In a list of three players, the controversial player of Manchester City has been imposed on De Gea, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper and who was a favorite for a server, and the Arsenal midfielder, Wilshere.

But before going into details it should clarify some points about this award. Is given to players under 21 years, so this year only entered the competition the players born after 1990. Thus, outstanding young players like Gareth Bale, Alexandre Pato, who was last year's winner, "Jovetic, Müller, Ander Herrera and Alvaro Dominguez, to name a few examples, not vying for the award because he was born in 1989 and Özil, Chicharito , Coentrao or Busquets, 88.

This should be distinguished Bravo Award Trophy. The Golden Boy has been awarded since 2003, when Van der Vaart was the first winner. Belongs to the Italian sports daily Tuttosport based on the vote of 30 sports journalists from across Europe and delivered on these dates, which has the calendar year. Only Spanish, Cesc Fabregas won it in 2006. For its part, the Bravo Trophy is given in June, after the football season, and is awarded to the newspaper, also Italian, Guerin Sportivo. It's much older since the first delivery was in 1978 and have won several Spanish: doubly Butragueño (1985.1986), Guardiola (1992), Casillas (2000) and Cesc (double in 2006). Both awards are given to any player, regardless of their origin, to compete in a European league. In recent years, the Golden Boy has gained in importance to the Bravo Trophy and is considered the Golden Ball of young players.

Super Mario, a player with so much quality as little head, Inter won the treble without being a key player in the scheme of Mourinho. Its quality will be hollow opening, allowing departure on some occasions, which led him to score nine goals in Serie A, but spent most of the season in the shadow of Eto'o, Pandev after joining the winter market and the great campaign of Diego Milito. It was more headlines for his acts of childish rebellion, and put the shirt on TV AC Milan rivals Inter, or pulling the shirt of your team on the floor in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

The Italian situation was already untenable as nerazurro and finalized his move to Manchester City, coached by Mancini, who made her debut at Inter, in exchange for 28 million euros. All business for the team Moratti. In England has the confidence of Italian coach, but Balotelli not quite take off in the Premiership. It is rumored a possible interest of Milan, he would not win for frights with a wardrobe consisting of Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and the possible signings of Cassano and Balotelli. Apparently, the City striker has always been a fan of Milan, this is no second.

For his part, De Gea has been a major appearances on the European scene last season, making the difficult goal of Calderón's own sobriety with a veteran, earning the game a Asenjo, being pivotal in the resurgence of the club under Quique Flores orders and winning the League and European Super Cup. It would have been the first goalkeeper to achieve this award, but has been third behind Balotelli and English Wilshere, one of the major occurrences of English football, and in important the Arsenal midfield after a successful transfer to Bolton and debuted at age 18 and with the England squad last August.

In the first list of candidates were the Spanish channels, perhaps burdened by the lack of media profile of Racing and their poor start to the season, Fran Mérida, Bojan Krkic and Liverpool midfielder Pacheco. In our league was also Musacchio, Villarreal's Argentine central. Also known names on the international scene as Salvio, on loan to Benfica Atletico Lukaku, pichihici Belgian league 17 years, Hazard, sought by Real Madrid and Arsenal, Inter Coutinho, Pjanic of Lyon, Kroos and delByr Contento, MceadlMnhseManchester United or Dzagoev of CSKA Moscow.

But Balotelli not settle for winning the trophy, giving vent to his verbiage stating that only one player, Messi, above him, wondering who Wilshere and ensuring that the next time Manchester City and Arsenal will see the faces show who is the Golden Boy. Quite a character.

Photo | Steindy