The Manchester United starlet has quite a lot in his locker already.
He’s quick, aggressive, almost completely fearless and capable of producing big moments in big games.
Just flick through his catalogue, after only one-and-a-half full seasons in the Manchester United first-team, and you’ll find a littany of headline-making contributions. Those late deciders against Fulham, Leeds United and Wolves, his extra-time assist to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup, that overhead kick at Goodison Park, that Wembley opener versus Man City.
If you hadn’t guessed, we’re talking about Alejandro Garnacho.
So too was Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, opening up about the rising star during his press conference ahead of the Albiceleste’s clash with Guatemala later today.
Garnacho, Scaloni says, still needs to add greater consistency to his game. Rather than come up with something sparkling every so often, the 19-year-old winger must learn to pose a threat consistently, game-by-game.
He certainly won’t be short of potential mentors in the Argentina dressing room, Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria and Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa all part of Scaloni’s current roster.
Breakout year for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho
“He’s training with us,” Scaloni tells TYC Sports. “He’s a guy who should not only burn in stages.”
Garnacho, who is likely to play a key role at this summer’s Copa America, has earned five caps for the World champions so far. The teenager is yet to open his international account though his performances during the most recent international break in March – one display was described as ‘electric’ – were his most convincing yet in the blue and white.
Scaloni, meanwhile, confirms that Garnacho will feature in that pre-Copa friendly with Guatemala.
“We will give him minutes,” adds the one-time West Ham defender. “He is a boy in whom we have a lot of expectations. We have to carry him in the way we believe with the entire coaching staff, talking to him and insisting that there are things he has to do more often.
“He has (to play) one-against-one. He is fast and that is what he has to do more often. That’s what we try to talk to him about.”
Copa America glory the target for Argentina
Scaloni has a point.
Garnacho can be devastating when isolated against opposition full-backs but the challenge for the former Atletico starlet is to find a way to get himself in those positions more regularly. His end-product needs some work too, although that is to be expected at such a young age.
Garnacho scored 10 goals during the 2023/24 campaign at Man United. He certainly had the chances to add at least five more to that tally, however, with his decision-making currently lacking the composure of more experienced players.
All the raw materials are there, though, for a winger who has as many goals in his first two seasons with Manchester United as the great Cristiano Ronaldo managed.
“He has enormous talent,” Argentina and Man United team-mate Lisandro Martinez tells ESPN, applauding the way Garnacho forced Josko Gvardiol into a horrific blunder before opening the scoring at Wembley.
“And he has to believe, like in the (first) goal, where he thought there was going to be a rival mistake. He himself caused Gvardiol’s mistake.
“That is the result of when you try your hardest. The truth is that I am very proud of him because he has worked hard every day, especially at his age.
“He’s a great boy. Now, we have to help him, guide him and be with him at all times.”
