Manchester United team-mate Christian Eriksen is convinced Alejandro Garnacho can become a ‘great, great player’ with the Argentina international going from strength-to-strength at the Premier League giants.
After the teenager scored twice in last week’s 3-0 hammering of West Ham, a rather intriguing statistic emerged on social media.
Alejandro Garnacho now has more goals and assists in Manchester United colours than the £73 million Jadon Sancho, despite playing nearly 2,000 fewer minutes for the Red Devils. Not bad for a 19-year-old who set United back a nominal fee when he joined as an unknown up-and-comer from Atletico Madrid.
Garnacho already had quite the reputation as something of a ‘clutch’ player last season – producing key contributions in big moments against the likes of Leeds, Fulham and Barcelona, aura thy name is Alejandro – but has added a greater consistency and ruthlessness to his game this term.
Alejandro Garnacho shining at Manchester United
Only Rasmus Hojlund – who opened the scoring in that West Ham clash last Sunday – has more than Garnacho’s seven goals in all competitions across 2023/24.
And Eriksen believes that it is Garnacho’s own drive and will to succeed which decides if he is to become a very good player or a truly great one.
“Difficult to say,” Eriksen tells MUTV when asked how high Garnacho could fly. “It’s his second season now and he’s done really well.
“I hope he keeps growing, keeps maturing, keeps playing games, developing. And I’m sure he is going to be a great, great player.
“How much (he develops) is up to him.”
Argentina can become ‘great’
Garnacho is threatening to make the right-wing spot his own under Ten Hag, booting the underperforming Antony out of the starting XI. He now has four goals and an assist in his last seven appearances, and will already be clearing space on his mantelpiece for the Goal of the Season award after that Puskas-baiting strike against Everton in the autumn.
“I had to do that (call) from my spare bedroom via video call, using a translator,” United’s academy director Nick Cox tells The Sun, explaining how he succeeded in luring Garnacho to Old Trafford in the midst of the pandemic.
“My boys at the time would have been 14 and 10. And I remember vividly that they were arguing with each other while I was trying to sign Alejandro!
“I still tell my boys now, had that argument rumbled on much longer then we probably wouldn’t have Alejandro Garnacho at Manchester United!”
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