Argentina’s greatest talent? Garnacho has it in him, but he needs to play regularly. A move away from Manchester United is on the table

Alejandro Garnacho is clearly one of Argentina’s greatest talents today, if not the greatest ever. He is getting space on the pitch at Manchester United, but not as much as he might have needed at his age. Would going out on loan be a better option for his future development?

If Garnacho is unique in anything, it’s his movement and dribbling, which allowed him to make a name for himself in the Premier League at the age of 18. Meanwhile, his first league game dates back to 28 April 2022, when he came on for one minute at Old Trafford in a match against Chelsea.

However, it was a different story last season when he sat on the bench from the edge of the season, but after that he started to assert himself more and more and his first league goal came when he scored in the Fulham net.

To date, he has accumulated 38 starts for Manchester United’s A-team, in which he has scored 5 goals and 5 assists. He was helped a lot by Erik ten Hag, who definitely knows how to work with young talents, which he showed not only at Ajax.

The Dutch coach believes in Garnacha, which is evidenced by the fact that he got a place in the starting line-up in the first two games. The Argentine winger was active, but it didn’t have an effect as he often spoiled the action. However, it must be added that the play of the whole team was not good at all. Against Nottingham he was already on the bench and did not get into the game at all.

A diamond in the rough

Garnacho was outstanding especially last season, when he often came on the pitch in the second half and brought a fresh wind to United’s game. He terrorised the weakened opposition defenders with his superb movement and was a much needed joker when the tempo of the game needed to change.

However, the Argentine talent makes a lot of mistakes and the actions he unleashes often end on his immaturity. But what can you expect from a 19-year-old? In the past years Manchester United were miserable and the room for error was big, only now the Red Devils want to fight for trophies again and they can’t afford these things anymore as it costs important points.

As we saw at the start of this season, it’s not on a basic level yet. But the potential is very clear.

Great competition in attack

Manchester United can certainly work with young talent. When it comes to top players, even at the expense of playing time, they keep them in the team and continue to develop them, as we have seen with examples like Marcus Rashford and most recently Mason Greenwood.

It’s just that if there’s anywhere that the Hag has a choice, it’s on the wings, where Antony, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri can start. All at least two years older than Garnacho.

As it is, the Dutch coach already has a problem affording space to Sancho, who came for too much money to sit on the bench. From that point of view, this transfer was not a happy one, certainly not if Antony came afterwards.

In such a big competition it will be very hard for Garnach to make a name for himself, on the other hand he will have his motivation taken care of. But what is more important in his situation, the motivation to make it or to play regularly?

To leave Old Trafford or to stay?

That being said, Manchester United believe in their players, they follow the style that despite the lack of game time, they can improve a given footballer enough that he will be fit enough to play in the starting line-up.

Personally, though, I’m of the opinion that Garnach would benefit most from a year at another team where he could play a full season regularly. He’d get to know a different environment, learn new things, and in a year or two he might be mature enough to get the time on the field that he deserves.

After all, if the Rashford – Hojlund – Antony offensive trio asserts itself this season, there will be very little room left for Garnacha and Sancho. But of course, injuries could come and turn the whole situation around.

However, it doesn’t change the fact that Garnacho is a generational Argentine talent who probably won’t reach the level of Lionel Messi, but all Red Devils fans believe that in a few years we will be talking about him as one of the best Argentines to ever kick a ball.

Let’s hope he chooses the best possible option for his development at Old Trafford.

Source: Manchester United, Transfermarkt