Reds are buzzing to see more of Manchester United’s breakout star Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra in the senior team, with Erik ten Hag having accelerated his involvement with United’s first team.
Signing from Atletico Madrid in 2020, Garnacho quickly managed to stand head and shoulders apart from his teammates as he got the call for Argentina’s senior squad this past March. He then made his Premier League debut with the senior team just one month later in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
Garnacho bagged four goals with Argentina’s U-20 team in the Maurice Revello Tournament, coming in as the second-highest goal-scorer. “Alejandro is a great player with a lot of potential for growing,” said Javier Mascherano, Argentina’s U-20 coach. “It is up to him to show what he is capable of.”
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that he’s been on ten Hag’s radar; the manager has been keen to fast-track the youngster’s involvement with United’s senior squad, according to The Mirror. And with hype around his fledgling career and a whirlwind few months including two crucial goals in the FA Youth Cup Final, United have prioritised closing a new six-year deal for Garnacho.
FA Youth Cup Victory
Led by Garnacho, United lifted their first FA Youth Cup in over 10 years last season, putting on a thrilling performance against Nottingham Forest in front of the home crowd.
Despite United’s early lead, Forest weren’t going down without a fight and equalised just before halftime. Garnacho’s late efforts in the second half saw United regain the lead; he added to his tally shortly after, winning his club’s 11th FA Youth Cup trophy.
The 18 year old already made his case for more senior team involvement and took full advantage of his chance to play in the friendly against Rayo Vallecano alongside other youth players — James Garner, Zidane Iqbal, Ethan Laird.
The youngsters all raised the roof as Old Trafford, but it was Garnacho making runs and weaving past defenders and providing assists that really got the crowd going.
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Garnacho certainly has ten Hag’s favour as the manager singled him out after the 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano. “He played pretty well – he is just a teenager but his performance was really good,” ten Hag said.
United’s youth coach, Travis Binnion, also praised the Academy breakout’s mentality after the FA Youth Cup win. “That boy could be in any stadium in the world and he wouldn’t care,” he said. “That’s his make-up. A few of them are like that and that’s why they are going to have good careers.”
It’s this kind of mindset that sets United’s players apart but with competition from more settled players, Garnacho’s spot on the first team is anything but confirmed. Fans can expect to see his name in the starting lineup this season, but we probably shouldn’t be disappointed if it’s not there (on the starting 11, at least) for United’s first match against Brighton this Sunday.
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