Alejandro Garnacho is enjoying a rapid rise to stardom at Manchester United and has been recognised for his efforts after winning the November Player of the Month award.
Garnacho made his first-team debut for the club last season but had to wait until the first week of November before he was offered his first start.
The 18-year-old made sure to leave his mark, scoring two winning goals and assisting two additional strikes in the eleventh month before the season was broken by this winter’s World Cup.
Garnacho was called up to the Argentina senior side in March this year but has not made his debut. He was not included in Argentina’s 26-man squad for their trip to Qatar, having initially been named in the provisional group.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, where Argentina are one of the hot favourites to win it all, Barcelona and Argentina legend Javier Mascherano has praised Garnacho.
“The first time Scaloni brought him in March, and then when we went to Toulon, he behaved spectacularly,” Mascherano said, according to The Mirror.
“Garnacho is a respectful boy. He formed a very nice bond with the boys who play in Argentina even though he didn’t really know them.
“I really don’t know why they say what they say, but with us he had a behaviour and predisposition that was 10 out of 10. Obviously Garnacho is a great player. There is a reason he is playing for Manchester United for a reason at the age of 18.”
SN’s verdict…
It’s fair to say that Garnacho will now be seen as a first-team player rather than an exciting academy product waiting for his breakthrough.
Now, he needs to keep his feet firmly on the ground and from a United supporter’s viewpoint, tying him down to a long-term deal will be the club’s objective.
