Manchester City’s Marcos Lopes was voted the Rising Star at this year’s North West Football Awards and the midfield man has a ‘great talent’ according to his captain.
The Portuguese Under-21 international is on loan at French side Lille, having been on the first team fringes at the Etihad for the past two seasons.
Elite Development Squad (EDS) captain George Glendon, who received the award on Lopes’ behalf, said the younger players can only benefit from training with the world-class players at City.
“I think he can go really far in the game, if he keeps his head down and works even harder,” said the son of former Blue Kevin Glendon.
“With Marcos in the first team it’s a massive incentive for us because that’s where we want to be.
“Training with them is a very different experience– it’s a lot faster and it makes you a better player.
“As a midfielder I’d say David Silva is the one that stands out the most – I try to play my game in the same style as him.”
“@MCFC: Congratulations to @Rony10Lopes, winner of the Rising Star award at the @NWFAwards! #mcfc” I thank you back! #together 🙂
— Rony Lopes (@Rony10Lopes) November 19, 2014
Brazilian born ‘Rony’, as he is affectionately known, joined the Citizens from Benfica in 2011 and became the club’s youngest-ever scorer against Watford in January 2013.
In the 2012-13 season Lopes regularly featured for the EDS and won the inaugural Academy Player of the Year award voted for by fans.
This season the attacking midfielder has played 11 times for the Ligue 1 club, scoring once against Nantes in an early season victory.
Glendon, who is a City fan and season ticket holder, says that the opportunity to play first team football is certainly something that drive Patrick Vieira’s squad.
“There’s quite a few of the EDS lads out on loan at the moment – that’s what we look up to and we want to be like them,” added the Manchester-born player.
“Our season has started off really well, we’ve not had that many games recently but hopefully we’ll keep that momentum going.
“We want to get as far as we can in every competition we play – we got to a final and a semi-final last year, but we want to win something this year.”
City’s under-21s currently sit second in the league and face Lopes’ former club Benfica in an International Cup game at Hyde FC on Friday night.
Main image courtesy of Manchester City FC via YouTube, with thanks.
