The youngster born and raised on the European continent who gives hope to all Argentines is playing his first season among the elite.
Alexander Garnacho, born in Spain, carries a Madrid accent and has grown up playing for England-based teams, but a sharp eye from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has linked him to Argentina. He seems destined to savor his standout performances at the national team level.
The 18-year-old stands as one of the brightest talents in Manchester United’s youth setup, a club he has gradually joined in the first team. He made his debut against Chelsea on April 28, coming on for just two minutes.
The chance to return home came on October 27, in the 3-0 victory over Sheriff in the UEFA Europa League, a performance that earned him the man-of-the-match honor. A week later, he netted his first goal in a tight 1-0 win against Real Sociedad.
Even though he was not part of Lionel Scaloni’s World Cup pre-selection, Garnacho’s future with the Albiceleste remains expansive. In the same week, he delivered two decisive contributions: in the Carabao Cup he appeared after 62 minutes and provided two assists; three days later, he delivered the cross and, in the 92nd minute, secured a painful 2-1 victory over Fulham on his Premier League scoring debut.
The 2023 season opened with momentum: an assist against Bournemouth and another against Manchester City in the 2-1 city derby. He logged only 18 minutes in that match, but the impact was meaningful, as it set up Rashford with a key pass. The same striker praised Garnacho, saying that when there are young players hungry to make a difference, anything can happen.
Garnacho, a thorn in Barcelona’s side
Born in Madrid and idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo, Garnacho clearly set the Europa League round of 16 series in a special light. Manchester United triumphed 4-3 on aggregate, and after the home victory at Old Trafford, in which he played about half an hour, the young winger offered a poignant dedication to the win: “The big team moves on to the next round.” Such provocative moments have already earned him cautions from coaches and teammates alike, reflecting his fiery but passionate approach to the game.
Garnacho’s key statistics at Manchester United:
Source: Goal