Alejandro Garnacho is back at Carrington to prepare for a new season at Manchester United.
What a difference a year makes. 12 months ago Alejandro Garnacho was hoping to catch Erik ten Hag‘s eye and break into the first team. While he was included on the tour to Australia, he did not get a minute of game time overseas.
A year on, Garnacho has established himself as part of the Manchester United first team squad, and also made his debut for Argentina.
He returned to training at the weekend, alongside Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen et al.
Kobbie Mainoo admiration for Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho is back training with the Manchester United first team and he is thrilled to be back at Old Trafford, having recently signed a contract extension which runs to 2028.
The teenager will know there are big challenges ahead in 2023/24, where he will have to show he deserves to be a regular starter, rather than just an impact substitute.
Garnacho is delighted to return, writing on Instagram: “I’m back! We’re back!🔴🤙🏽”
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The Argentine’s message elicited responses from a handful of his academy pals, who really see Garnacho as a player to look up to.
Kobbie Mainoo left a simple response on Garnacho’s page, which said everything, writing, ‘the man’.
Mainoo at stage Garnacho was 12 months ago
Kobbie Mainoo is at the stage where Alejandro Garnacho was a year ago. He had a handful of first team cameo appearances behind him, and was hoping for a breakthrough year.
Garnacho and Mainoo played alongside each other in the 2022 FA Youth Cup winning team, with the young midfielder just 16 at the time.
He started for the first team in pre-season in midweek, and Erik ten Hag appears to have high hopes for Mainoo. If there is one player who stands the best chance of breaking through and following Garnacho next season, then it is the young midfielder.
Mainoo, now 18, clearly sees Garnacho as a player to look up to, and his ‘the man’ comment shows the respect he has for his peer, who he hopes to emulate.