Alejandro Garnacho is the most exciting prospect Manchester United have had in years

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Manchester United look to have struck gold with the decision to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Atletico Madrid in 2020.

Dortmund were also after Garnacho, Marca reported, but the teenager preferred to follow his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s path to Old Trafford.

Now he is playing alongside Ronaldo, who laid on the assist for his first goal for the club last week, back in Spain against Real Sociedad.

Last night he demonstrated another step in his development, he starred without Ronaldo, showing he does not need his idol alongside him.

He may actually be better without him too, playing a more natural game, rather than constantly trying to feed the number 7 with passes of his own.

Garnacho was sublime against Villa in his cameo, providing two assists, setting up goals for Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay.

Garnacho is most exciting prospect United have had in years

Alejandro Garnacho has just got it. He has got the X factor that makes a star. We saw this with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003.

Garnacho is arguably even more refined and polished than Ronaldo was at his age when he signed from Sporting.

Two years in United’s academy has helped. The coaching staff have done an excellent job with him, and the fruits of that work are already ripening.

Garnacho has one goal and two assists to his name already, but the excitement is more than simply the numbers he has produced, he passes the ‘eye test’.

When he has the ball, defenders back off. They don’t know what he is going to do next, with Garnacho capable of dribbling past them, passing incisively, or creating space to shoot.

He has the attributes opponents hate, real pace, and fearlessness. Garnacho’s decision making is also smart too, he knows when to pass it, and when be more extravagant.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will keep his feet firmly on the ground, but he is already realising he can’t hold him back too much longer.

When United needed a goal, Garnacho was sent on to change the game. He has the manager’s trust, and he showed why.

We so frequently see European teams sign young talents and wish United showed the same foresight to grab a star of the future. This is no longer as easy due to Brexit

In 2020 United took a few swings, with moves for Marc Jurado, Alvaro Fernandez, and Hannibal joining the previous summer. Garnacho is the most advanced of the bunch, but they could all make it.

Not all players do, but Garnacho has a really great chance to develop into a top star. He has a great manager to help him develop.

From a Manchester United fan perspective, it’s hard not to appreciate how lucky we may have got with Garnacho, who is now the club’s youngest foreign European scorer since George Best.