Manchester United has a fondness for wingers, dating back to George Best, Ryan Giggs, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s early years. Alejandro Garnacho has reignited that relationship in a remarkable debut season with the Red Devils’ first team.

Garnacho is the star of Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup-winning squad in 2022, having made an impression on the first team last year. He has made an impact this season, scoring four goals and contributing six assists for Erik ten Hag’s club in ten starts and 19 substitute appearances.

Garnacho’s development has been so outstanding that he was named to the inaugural NXGN Nine on Tuesday as one of the world’s top nine footballers born in 2004 or after.

A serious ankle injury versus Southampton ended Garnacho’s season and prevented him from making his Argentina debut. However, Ten Hag expects him to return at the conclusion of the season when Man United will try to add the FA Cup and Europa League to their recent Carabao Cup title, as well as return to the Champions League.

Goal has written about Manchester United’s outstanding winger’s development from the time he first caught the club’s eye at the age of 16 to when he became a match-winner. In the Premier League…

The 18-year-old has created a particular bond with Manchester United fans, who sing to him: “Viva Garnacho, run down the wing, hear United sing”.

Sounds familiar? The most recent song is dedicated to Ronaldo, and it reflects the fans’ faith in the adolescent, who has emerged as their new idol after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s retirement.

Fans appreciate Garnacho for more than simply his talent. Despite having familial roots in Spain and Argentina, he effectively graduated from Manchester United and is inspired by the club’s history of producing thrill-seeking young players. club.

According to Nick Cox, head of Manchester United’s academy, “I think it’s in our blood, our style of football is designed to get supporters off their seats.” Surname. You must be inventive and play with flair. “That is typical of Manchester United.”

“Alejandro has really embraced the fact that our supporters are not only passionate about entertaining players but they also really enjoy watching young players who they feel are one of their own.”

“Even though he arrived from Spain at the age of 16, I believe people consider him one of us. Our followers saw him in his early days, watched him grow up, and enjoy spending time with him.”

Garnacho was suggested to Manchester United by Spanish scout Gerardo Guzman after earning a name for himself in Atletico Madrid’s academy. The staff’s videos demonstrated the winger’s ability, as well as his love of football.

“We could see he was swift, imaginative, and enjoyed duels. Cox adds, “It wasn’t easy to tell when you were watching.” From a distance, he appears to be a boy who enjoys football and is fascinated with it.”

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, convincing the 16-year-old to relocate to Manchester proved more harder than usual. With travel and face-to-face contacts severely limited, Manchester United’s courtship of Garnacho was conducted via video conversations.

However, the player’s ambition to advance in his profession had an impact on the organisation.

“Alejandro knows he wants to be the best football player he can be and will do his best to do that,” he stated. He aims to play in the Premier League, particularly for Manchester United.”

Settle down in the first year, burst in the second.

Garnacho arrived in England ready to succeed at Manchester United, but he faced new hurdles when he arrived in September 2020, when Covid restrictions were still in effect in Manchester.

For the most of the first year, Garnacho and his teammates were only permitted to practise 75 minutes each day and were barred from the locker room.

“For a kid to come in under those conditions and integrate into a new football club with a new language is not easy,” Cox went on to say. He began slowly here and took some time to find his feet during his first year with us, but that’s fine. We shall always remain patient. In the second year, he truly integrated.”

Garnacho played for the U18 and U23 teams in his second season, but he really shone in the FA Youth Cup, scoring seven goals in six games, five of which were at Old Trafford.

The further Man United progressed in the tournament, the more individuals were interested, and Garnacho and his teammates improved their performance. A record 67,000 people packed Old Trafford for the final against Nottingham Forest, when Garnacho scored twice in a 3-1 victory.

Thrive on the first team.

Garnacho’s performance with the youth squad won him minutes under Ralf Rangnick and a spot on Manchester United’s pre-season trip with the senior team.

However, getting into Ten Hag’s team was difficult, and he didn’t get his first start until the Europa League encounter against Sheriff at home in October.

He scored his first goal a week later against Real Sociedad, and then his first Premier League goal, a spectacular 90th-minute strike against Fulham. Garnacho has assisted Marcus Rashford’s winning goal against Manchester City, scored against arch-rivals Leeds and sunk West Ham in the FA Cup’s fifth round.

Cox has proudly followed Garnacho’s progression through the first team and has been impressed by his ability to replicate his youth team success on the largest platform.

“It’s the hardest jump for any young player, the transition from the youth team to the first team,” said Cox. “Once again, it does not happen instantly. He is still a young player in development. He needs to learn, progress, and receive assistance from his teammates. He understands the rigorous demands of the first-team football working environment. It took him the first third of the season to establish himself as a starter.”

Believe that everything is possible.

While Cox is proud of Garnacho’s growth, he is quick to point out that he has not yet ‘ made it’ as a Manchester United player. However, he was aware of Garnacho’s capabilities and ambition.

“We’re very excited about the early stages of his development, very excited about what he’s showing us,” Cox was quoted as saying. “He can do it on a consistent basis. He still has a lot of room for growth.”

“He has a positive group of staff here, we will encourage him to believe that anything is possible.”