Is Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho a superstar in waiting – or the next football bad boy?
- Teenager Alejandro Garnacho is enjoying a breakout year at Manchester United
- But manager Erik ten Hag is not yet fully convinced by the 18-year-old’s attitude
- He’s has questioned the winger’s behaviour in press conferences this term
Manchester United know all about Alejandro Garnacho’s raw ability and potential. Talk of a new contract has been in the works almost a year.
The Red Devils boast a rich history of talented young wingers, with Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and more recently Marcus Rashford exploding out of the academy, and ever since Garnacho’s dazzling second-half double in the FA Youth Cup final last May, the teenager has been identified as a valuable asset for the future.
But finding Garnacho the right deal – one that rewards his exceptional skill while also keeping him grounded – is important, and it’s no wonder United are taking care over the terms of his contract.
If Erik ten Hag has made one thing abundantly clear since his arrival at Old Trafford last summer, it’s that attitude is the cornerstone of success.
The nature of Ralf Rangnick’s temporary appointment last season almost encouraged the players to relax their discipline, much like school children under the supervision of a substitute teacher. And the Dutchman has since worked hard to restore order in the dressing room.
Talented teenager Alejandro Garnacho is enjoying a breakout campaign at Manchester United
But the Argentine (right) has yet to fully convince Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag (left), who has continually demanded an improvement in attitude from the 18-year-old since pre-season
Talk of a new contract has been in the works almost a year – but no agreement has yet been made between the teenager and the Old Trafford chiefs despite his impressive form this term
Old Trafford’s chiefs rightly backed Ten Hag after Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive and damning interview last November, cutting ties with the Portuguese superstar ahead of the World Cup, and their vote of confidence has been repaid in silverware already.
Showing that no individual is larger than the squad, Ten Hag made an example out of Ronaldo because the forward’s attitude didn’t meet his required standard.
Shortly after the Premier League restart, the disciplinarian dropped Rashford, his star man, after he overslept and missed a team meeting. Publicly agreeing with the punishment, Rashford respected the Dutchman’s decision and has flourished as one of Ten Hag’s favourites, netting 18 goals in 25 games across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Garnacho’s attitude has regularly been called out by the Manchester United manager, who’s made a habit of bringing the 18-year-old back down to earth after every one of his impressive displays.
A week after Garnacho’s promising full debut against FC Sheriff in the Europa League last November, the 53-year-old coach handed him another opportunity against Real Sociedad. He did, however, imply that the winger’s attitude had been lacking behind the scenes.
‘We have extra options in the frontline with Garnacho – he’s developing very well,’ he said after the youngster scored the winner during United’s 1-0 victory. ‘I hope he can keep that attitude like now. When he is reliable, you see he is a threat, he can create, he can give final passes and he can score goals, so it’s a good process.’
Later that month, after Garnacho’s fruitful second-half cameo inspired United to a 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup, Ten Hag said: ‘It was good that he came on and showed that performance and had that impact in the game, to be able to assist, make the dribbles and run behind.
‘He still has things to learn but quite obviously we are happy with his development and he can contribute to the team.
Ten Hag speaks highly of Garnacho in press conferences but regularly questions his attitude
Star man Marcus Rashford has bought into the manager’s methods – understanding why he was dropped by the Dutchman in December for oversleeping and missing a team meeting
The Man United boss didn’t stand for Cristiano Ronaldo’s poor attitude, despite his star power
‘It depends on his approach, his attitude. When he keeps working then yes, it is possible [for him to play more]. He wants to improve every day. He has to do the right things in his lifestyle. He has the capability.’
The manager swiftly noticed Garnacho’s poor attitude after his promotion to the senior squad last summer. Late for two pre-season team meetings, the Argentine did not play a single match during the Red Devils’ tour of Thailand and Australia.
Before they jetted off, Ten Hag also warned the teenager about his appearance in and around the training camp, as he was frequently seen at Carrington with his socks down and laces untied.
The boss has since pointed out, albeit hesitantly, that Garnacho’s attitude has improved since the turn of the year – even though he’s continued to attract controversy both on and off the pitch.
The Madrid-born star angered Barcelona’s players and fanbase last month after appearing to mock Pedri with a post-match celebration in the wake of United’s 4-3 aggregate win over the Spanish side in the Europa League.
After mimicking the injured midfielder’s trademark glasses celebration – and subsequently posting a picture of him doing so on social media with the caption: ‘The big team advanced to the next round’ – Garnacho was slammed by the Spanish media and has since been called out by Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
The centre back warned that without modesty and humility, young players struggle to go far in football.
Garnacho mocked Barcelona star Pedri last month by mimicking his trademark celebration after Man United beat the LaLiga side in the Europa League – infuriating the Spanish media
The in-form Barcelona midfielder missed his side’s crucial Europa League clash through injury
‘I respect everyone and I feel that humility is ahead of everything. Everyone expresses themselves as they want, but I prefer to have a lower profile and then show what I do on the pitch,’ Araujo told Infobae when asked about the youngster’s celebration earlier this month.
‘This is football, he is very young and there is still a long way to go. You have to go calmly and humbly.’
Now injured, having damaged his ankle ligaments in United’s 0-0 stalemate against Southampton earlier this month, Garnacho was set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, out of sight and out of the headlines.
But in the modern world of social media, which plagues strict coaches such as Ten Hag, young players are a button away from the spotlight – and Garnacho found himself in hot water once again from inside the comfort of his own home.
After taking to Instagram to wish United luck in their FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham last weekend, the starlet hurriedly removed his post before uploading an almost identical replica, realising he’d initially exposed what appeared to be an illegal vape on his sofa.
Garnacho inadvertently exposed an illegal vape in an Instagram post last weekend – before quickly removing the picture and replacing it with almost a carbon-copy moments later
The United starlet is currently sidelined, having suffered an ankle injury against Southampton
A source close to Garnacho suggested to Sportsmail on Monday that the vape – a green ‘Elux Legend 3500’ which is five times over the legal size in the UK – was not his and instead belonged to a family member.
The post, which remained live on Garnacho’s feed for a number of minutes before being hastily taken down, was spotted by eagle-eye fans and no doubt will have been brought to Ten Hag’s attention.
If Garnacho continues to irk Ten Hag with his ill-discipline, he may see his game-time decrease rather rapidly. A permanent move away from Old Trafford is certainly off the table given his astronomic potential, but the club may be tempted to send the teenager out on loan, especially if Ten Hag wants his unpredictable personality away from the dressing room on a temporary basis.
Garnacho will feel his best chance of earning a regular first team spot is by sticking around, just like Rashford did in his younger years. Competing against big-money signings Jadon Sancho and Antony for a spot on the flanks, the winger could easily find himself surplus to requirements if he fails to convince the boss long-term.
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