The 'jewel' of Madrid: Who is Manchester United wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho?
- Sean Fisher
- 22 March 2022
The 17-year-old has shone for the Red Devils’ youth team this season, and has earned a call up to the Argentina national team.
Alejandro Garnacho has been attracting plenty of attention this season. The 17-year-old winger joined Manchester United's academy in 2020 and has quickly become one of the finest youth prospects at the club.
But what makes Garnacho so highly spoken of? Well, from dazzling solo goals to an Argentina call-up alongside Lionel Messi, Planet Sport takes a look at United's up-and-coming wonderkid.
A Spanish jewel
Garnacho grew up in Madrid and featured in Atletico Madrid's youth academy for five years, starting out as an 11-year-old in 2015.
In October 2020, Manchester United scouts recommended signing the young star and he ended up moving to Old Trafford for a fee of £419,000.
Joining Manchester United
Garnacho hit the ground running at Old Trafford, and slotted straight into the club's under-18 side.
His performances earned him praise from former United academy graduate David Jones, who described the young Argentine as a "moments man".
But Garnacho upped his level in the 2021/22 season and has scored 10 goals and registered five assists across 27 appearances in all competitions.
It's in the FA Youth Cup that he's really shone, with four goals and three assists from just four games.
Garnacho then continued his scintillating form with a brace against Leicester City in the quarter-finals. United found themselves a goal down to the Foxes before Garnacho's low-driven free-kick drew them level.
The 17-year-old prospect then scored a stylish late winner, displaying brilliant ball control before lashing in a shot with his left foot to send United into the semi-finals.
If he hadn't already impressed Manchester United fans, a fitting 'Siuuu' celebration imitating Cristiano Ronaldo put a joyful cherry on top.
International call-up
As a result of his outstanding performances for Manchester United, Garnacho was recently called up to the Argentina national team.
Lionel Scaloni named the 17-year-old in Argentina's squad ahead of the side's World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Ecuador.
Despite having never played a senior game for either Manchester United or Spain, Garnacho now finds himself training alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala.
Having now been named in the senior squad, Scaloni will be temped to field the youngster in order to secure his long-term international future, and stop any chance of him pledging alliegance with Spain.
