The Manchester United wonderkid didn’t do anything too spectacular during his fourth appearance for the national team last night.
But that’s not really the point. Alejandro Garnacho, playing the entire second half as Argentina defeated El Salvador 3-0 in a friendly, kept things simple. The odd line-breaking dribble here, a well-timed pass there.
At the age of only 19, however, the excitement that greeted Garnacho’s 45-minute outing was not because he burst the net with a Puskas contender like at Goodison Park. Not because he ran the defence ragged like he did against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, asssiting Amad Diallo’s extra-time winner.
But because the teenager went about his business with a maturity, a poise and a composure well beyond his years.
The contrast between this display and the one the Manchester United starlet put in against Indonesia back in 2023 was night and day. Last June, Garnacho looked like a player desperate to make his mark, a little too individually-focused and making the wrong call at the wrong time. His development over the last nine months, into a footballer who can be relied upon to make the right pass at the right time, who knows when to shoot and when to keep things simple, has been little short of staggering.
Manchester United star continues to improve
“Alejandro Garnacho played his best game for Argentina,” was ESPN’s verdict. “And showed that he is fit to be part of the squad that will compete in the Copa America (this summer).
“He was less restrained than on those occasions (against Australia and Indonesia) and was more encouraged to demonstrate his ability on the left wing.”
Alongside fellow youngsters Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho has been one of Man United’s stand-out performers since the turn of the year, striking fear into the heart of Liverpool’s backline after breaking a Premier League record the previous week against Everton.
The former Atletico Madrid whizzkid certainly translated that form onto the international stage as goals from the English-based trio Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez and Gio Lo Celso fired the World Cup holders to a comfortable victory.
“Alejandro Garnacho did not waste the chance and once again had an electric performance with the national team,” writes TYC Sports, the winger unlucky not to claim an assist when former Man United man Angel di Maria failed to convert his well-placed pull-back.
‘An electric performance’
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed before the game that Garnacho – alongside Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte – was under consideration for a place in his Copa America squad. The latest in an ever-growing collection of ‘electrifying’ displays will have done his chances no harm at all.
“We spoke with (Argentina Under-21 coach Javier Mascherano) about Garnacho and Buonanotte, because they could have gone with him,” Scaloni says. “And we wanted to have them here because the priority, above all in the Copa America, is the senior national team.
“They are here because they have the possibility of going to the Cup, obviously. They are playing at a good level in the most important competition, like the Premier League, and they have their chance.”
A chance Garnacho appears destined to grab with both hands.