Manchester United Have High Hopes For Young Star Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Thursday has ensured they can now only equal their lowest ever points total in the 30-year history of the Premier League.

United are currently on 55 points, and would need to win their final three games to reach 64 points, which they last achieved during David Moyes’s only season in 2013-14.

This has been a truly dreadful season for United as they have burned their way through three managers and lurched from one crisis to another.

The club and their supporters are desperate for any signs of hope, and that mercifully emerged on Thursday when they handed their highly-rated 17-year-old winger Alejandro Garnacho his first team debut against Chelsea.

He was only on the pitch for around two minutes, having come on as a substitute in added time for Anthony Elanga, but it represented United’s strong belief he is a player that can make a major impact at Old Trafford.

Garnacho has been training with the United first team since the start of April, and had been included in the matchday squad for their recent game against Norwich City.

His first team debut was a reward for the stunning season he has enjoyed in United’s youth teams, scoring a total of 12 goals and contributing six assists in 30 games.

Garnacho has helped take United to the brink of winning their first FA Youth Cup for 11 years, by scoring five goals in the competition on the way to reaching the final against Nottingham Forest on May 11.

“He has been training with us [the first team] and I know that he is one of the most promising players,” the United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said earlier this month.

“He is still only 17, but if he keeps his feet on the ground, and if he keeps trying to get better every day, then he will not only be sitting on the bench but there is every chance he will be playing for this club.”

Garnacho was born and raised in Spain, and played for their national youth sides before he chose to play for Argentina, which he qualifies for through his mother.

In March this year, before he had even been involved with the United first team, he was called-up to the Argentinian national squad, and took part in training sessions alongside Lionel Messi. He has also recently signed a sponsorship deal with Nike.

Garnacho began his career at Atletico Madrid, but United beat Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund to sign him in the summer of 2000 when he turned 16.

United’s coaches have been impressed with his development over the last two years, and recommended that he be elevated to the first team squad.

“When he’s running at players he’s a threat, he’s the type of player who gets the crowd excited, he’s a dribbler, he likes to run at players, but he’s got a lot of improving and developing to do,” the United Under 23 manager Neil Wood has said.