The nominations for Tuttosport’s Golden Boy award for best young player (up to the age of 21) have been released. Manchester United’s Rafael da Silva, Federico Macheda and Tiago Bebe have all been nominated.

The Italian sport newspaper honour the brightest talent in Europe each year. In recent years both Wayne Rooney (2004) and Anderson (2008) have won this award.

Other players from Premier League clubs named in the 40-man list are Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Gael Kakuta (Chelsea), Dani Pacheco (Liverpool), Mario Balotelli (Manchester City) and Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

For a list of all 40 nominees and to vote, click here.

Manchester United start off their campaign to retain the Carling Cup tomorrow when they visit Championship side Scunthorpe United.

New signing Bebe was left out of the reserve team last night, who beat Bury 5-1. This has resulted in rumours that he could be named in the squad to face Scunthorpe. Since joining United in the summer, Bebe has played for the reserves and Portugal U21’s but is yet to make his debut for the first team.

After signing for just over £7million, Bebe has received negative press, especially from the Daily Mail after his performance for Portugal and the reserves. His performance for the reserves wasn’t that bad and it was a poor performance by the whole team.

There was some surprise when the official list of Man United's Champions League squad was revealed and Bebe wasn't in it. Sir Alex Ferguson could submit a list of 25 players for 'List A'. On the Official websites of both Manchester United and UEFA, only 24 were named.

Bebe has made the Champions League squad after it was revealed that his name was not on the list due to a UEFA admin error.

UEFA have confirmed the 20-year-old is on the list and is available for Tuesday's opening game against Rangers at Old Trafford.

It has been announced this evening that Man United will sign relatively unknown 20-year old Bébé, subject to a medical. Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (Bébé) had been linked with a move to Real Madrid but has now agreed terms with United and will undergo a medical on Friday.

The young striker only signed for Vitória de Guimarães five weeks ago, it’s believed that Man United will pay the buyout clause in his contract, which is rumoured to be around the £7.4m mark.

According to The Guardian, former Man United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz made the recommendation to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Bébé has represented Portugal in the homeless World Cup, he was brought up in an orphanage but has spent some of his life on the streets.

A statement released by Manchester United says: “Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes for the purchase of 20-year-old striker Tiago Manuel Dias Correia for an undisclosed fee, subject to a successful medical in Manchester later this week”.

He is now the eigth striker on United’s books along with Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf (who is currently on loan at Blackburn Rovers).