Alejandro Garnacho Biography: Childhood, career & achievements

Manchester United has always been known for its rapid attacking flair. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Marcus Rashford, the club has seen some pacy wingers. One of the new players on the list is Alejandro Garnacho, known for his explosive pace and fearless creativity. His determination on the pitch has made him one of the most valuable assets for both his club and Argentinian football.

Childhood

Born on 1st June 2004 in Spain, Alejandro Garnacho grew up in a family with roots deeply immersed in Argentina. The family had a profound influence on football in their identity and footballing ambitions. His mother, Ana Ferreyra, is an Argentine international and his father provided him with a Spanish cultural foundation. Even in his current style of play, one can see Spanish technical football with Argentine passion. 

Born in the Spanish capital, Alejandro Garnacho grew up in Madrid’s diverse neighborhoods. At the early age of six, Garnacho’s exceptional pace caught the attention of Getafe’s scouts. Local coaches at Madrid kept tracking the player’s growth, with Atlético Madrid increasing serious interest in the player. 

In 2015, Atlético Madrid’s youth system secured the signature of the player. The player grew by leaps and bounds in Atlético Madrid’s youth system before Manchester United knocked on the door. The Spanish outfit demanded €465K to sell the youngster.

Manchester United did not blink twice to pay the fee. Joining Manchester United in 2020, he broke through the academy of the club to the U-18 side a year later before moving to the U-23 side at the start of the 2022/23 season. By then, Alejandro Garnacho had got his first-ever professional football contract. 

Career

While the start of Alejandro Garnacho’s career happened at the academy, he established himself as one of the most promising talents in Carrington. His explosive pace, dribbling ability, and goal-scoring instincts made him a standout performer at every level. His performances in the FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2 caught the attention of the fans of the club. His chance of getting the spotlight came when he scored a solo goal in the FA Youth Cup win over Everton. It was also nominated for Manchester United’s Goal of the Month award for February 2022.

The player’s name was on the teamsheet for the first time in 2022 but had to wait for his chance until April 2022 when he came on as a substitute for Anthony Elanga in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. In the same year, he won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. That season was his breakthrough as he also helped Manchester United to win the competition for the first time since 2011. 

At the start of the 2022/23 season, the player changed his shirt number from 75 to 49. The Argentine teenager continues to make big strides at the U-21 level but waited until the 27th of October to make his debut for Manchester United in Europe. He played against Sheriff Tiraspol and contributed to a 3-0 win. He played alongside his idol Cristiano Ronaldo in the same season before things turned ugly with Manchester United and the Portuguese international. In the 2022/23 season, Garnacho had five goals and four assists for Manchester United across all competitions. 

By the start of the 2023/24 season, he was a household name at Manchester United. He became a starter at the club and featured alongside Marcus Rashford and Antony in the attack. In the 2023/24 season, he also made his Champions League debut for Manchester United. He ended the season with 30 Premier League appearances and 15 goal contributions across all competitions. 

While the player started the 2024/25 season on a high, Garnacho struggled for form, and skirmishes with the new manager saw him being sidelined. However, he ended the campaign with a nine-goal contribution and is currently linked with a move away from Manchester United. 

At the international level, he started with him featuring for the Spanish U-18 side in 2021 but soon changed his nationality to Argentina. Garnacho made his debut for the Argentina under-20 side on 26 March against the United States of America before making his senior debut in 2023 against Australia. He then went on to become an integral part of Scaloni’s lineup. Currently, he has eight national caps and has yet to score a goal for the national team.  

Achievements

Alejandro Garnacho has seen a rapid ascent from youth football to international club football. Alongside the rapid ascent, he has also won some of the individual as well as club awards. At the youth level, he was the top goalscorer for Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup with seven goals. On the other hand, he also won the Puskas Award in 2024 for scoring the bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League fixture. 

On the other hand, Alejandro Garnacho won the Carabao Cup in the 2022/23 season and the FA Cup in 2023/24 with Manchester United. At international level, he has laid his hands on the Copa América, which was played in the summer of the 2023/24 season.