It says everything about Anthony Elanga's standing at Manchester United that Erik ten Hag refused to let him go out on loan.
Despite signing Antony for £85.5million, and with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford back in form, Ten Hag considered Elanga too important to be allowed to be loaned out, despite an enquiry from Leicester. Elanga has featured in all but one of Ten Hag's eight games in charge of United, the winger's talent and progress recognised with his inclusion on the 40-player shortlist for Tuttosport's prestigious Golden Boy award.
Former winners include Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling and Erling Haaland, with eight of the 19 awarded the accolade having played in Manchester, for United or City. With such a stellar list of past winners, whoever picks up the accolade can bank on a glittering career at the very top of the game, which is where Sweden international Elanga seems destined to be.
Also on the shortlist – reduced to 20 names next month - are Liverpool duo Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho, England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham and Arsenal forward Marquinhos.
Elanga was handed his United debut by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it was interim coach Ralf Rangnick who gave the 21-year-old a sustained run in the side after taking over from the Norwegian. Like Ten Hag, Rangnick was so impressed with Elanga, he refused to let him go out on loan, which was the plan, to allow the winger to play regularly and develop.
During his first few days in charge at United, Rangnick spent hours in his Manchester hotel suite watching videos of his new players in action and getting up to speed. One player in particular caught his eye, with Elanga impressing him so much in the clips he viewed that he instructed the club to halt any moves to loan him out.
“From the very first day of my first training session, he showed up," said Rangnick. "l'd heard his name before and I was in my hotel room watching videos of him on YouTube and I thought 'this boy is really good'.
"He was almost on his way out on loan. I told him 'You will not go, you will stay here' and he's developed in training.”
Elanga responded with three goals and two assists and, while he has yet to open his account this season, he has impressed Ten Hag, with the feeling mutual.
“During pre-season, we worked really hard and bought into how the manager wants us to play,” said Elanga. "If I have to say one thing that's changed, it’s attitude. Our attitude has improved a lot. We're more focused and know what to do. We play as a team.
"It’s been really good, new tactics, a new system and I’m really excited about working with him this season, getting better and improving all areas of my game.
"It’s important to have good competition in the team. Antony plays on the right and I play on the left. It’s good. We're all young and we have a lot of games this year.”
