Last season, Alejandro Garnacho was the highlight of Manchester United's FA Youth Cup run, scoring seven goals and assisting three times, including two key goals in the final.
United won the competition for the first time since 2011, when Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, and Ravel Morrison were part of the squad. United had won the competition for the record eleventh time, but it wasn't the only one on the night.
The match drew over 67,000 spectators to Old Trafford, nearly double the previous Youth Cup attendance record.
In the last minutes of the game, they were able to see the youthful winger steal the show. It would have made them eager to see what the future held for them.
What are the advantages of Alejandro Garnacho?
The 17-year-old is famed for his lightning speed, which is matched by his incredible endurance. Garnacho put this to good use against Everton's under-18s in the FA Youth Cup fifth round last season, when he scooped up the ball in his own half, blitzed his man, and placed the ball into the net.
The left-winger can either go inside and use his right foot's shooting skill or drive inside, or he can challenge his full-pace back's on the outside. A test that he generally excels in.
Garnacho has also formed a bond with Charlie McNeill, a United youth squad member who joined the club in 2020, and the two have collaborated.
The adolescent will occasionally choose to dive a little deeper to assist in offensive formation, but he is far more dangerous when he is operating directly with or without the ball.
His quickness allows him to have a scary turn of pace, and he honed his skills one-on-one against defenders throughout the 2021/22 season. He can slow down and square up his opponent, and when they're caught off guard, he runs to either side and often gains the upper hand to deliver a lethal ball or fire at goal.
What are the flaws of Alejandro Garnacho's game?
While there is a lot of anticipation about the United academy graduate, he is far from completed. Despite being the first player in his age group to deputize for the first team, he still needs to work on a few things.
Garnacho is a lethal danger in the final third, but, like many young players, he can make mistakes there as well. The stage was created in the Youth Cup final, and while Garnacho eventually ignited the game, he squandered a lot of opportunities when better alternatives were available.
What does the future hold for Alejandro Garnacho?
A loan transfer for the winger, who won't turn 18 until July, might be too soon.
He'll most likely be a vital player of United's under-23s side in Premier League 2, while also working with the first squad and earning the occasional appearance.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho trains with Charlie McNeill and Marc Jurado | Manchester United
Erik ten Hag has a reputation for giving young players a chance, which bodes well for the former Atletico Madrid ace.
However, he should be able to focus on his work in the development system next season in order to be best prepared for when he is ready to play in the first team.
Supporters adore a dangerous young winger, and Garnacho possesses all of the tools necessary to rouse the Old Trafford crowd — he has already done so.
Last season, he stole the show and the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year title. The next campaign will be about demonstrating his abilities in the PL2 on a continuous basis in order to prove that he can eventually break into the first eleven.
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