Alejandro Garnacho is having the breakout season he would have dreamt of at Manchester United.
While Alejandro Garnacho’s initial breakout came nearly two years ago, the way he has begun the 2024/25 season shows he is ready to go up another level.
Despite playing a whopping 50 games last season, consistency in his game was never quite there for Garnacho, reflected in his struggles breaking into the Argentina starting line-up.
The No.17 for Manchester United has been electric all campaign thus far, with seven-goal contributions in his opening six games this season – amid this form Garnacho has received a Kopa Trophy nomination.
Parallels can be drawn between Garnacho’s 2024/25 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s breakout as an elite player in 2006/07.
Alejandro Garnacho is on fire for Manchester United
As Manchester United thumped Barnsley 7-0, Garnacho was the star man at the centre of everything, directly being involved in four goals.
Garnacho scored twice and assisted twice in the biggest win Erik ten Hag has achieved since becoming United boss – although six goals less than his record win in management.
Both assists set up Marcus Rashford who also grabbed a brace in the game as the pair combined excellently in a promising display we need them to do more regularly in the Premier League.
This megastar performance followed his goal against Southampton last Saturday, perfectly demonstrating the consistency he is starting to show this season.
The Argentine has long promised to become the main man for United, but this season he is finally showing signs that he can be United’s star.
This is reminiscent of the breakout campaign his hero, and United legend, Ronaldo had back in 2006/07.
- READ MORE: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo? Meet one of football’s most iconic names and undisputed Man Utd legend
Cristiano Ronaldo-esque breakthrough season for Manchester United No.17
For Garnacho, last season was a real improvement on his debut campaign, yet it still saw him score just 10 goals in 50 games – with countless big chances going amiss. This is due to Garnacho’s poor decision-making.
But the way he has started this season with four goals and three assists in just six games is at least looking as though he has left these troubles behind and is ready to make an impact regularly.
In 2006/07, Ronaldo played 53 games but scored 23 goals and assisted 14 – an amount which set him up for his record-breaking 2007/08 season which saw the club do the league and Champions League double.
This is what this season feels like for Garnacho, with the winger emulating his hero in a gradual build-up to becoming a star – something Garnacho is on the cusp of if he can continue along these lines.
The performance against Barnsley feels like it is his arrival as the club’s main man – now he just needs to take this confidence into Saturday.
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