Manchester United have two of the most exciting teenagers in world football, both of who fans would argue are priceless, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
Priceless to Manchester United perhaps, but various outlets use different metrics to calculate transfer values, at more modest prices. Transfermarkt claim Alejandro Garnacho‘s value is peaking at a new high of 45 million Euros, which appears more based on what he has achieved, rather than his sky-high potential.
The values should be taken in context. A year ago the same outlet claimed Garnacho’s value was 25 million Euros, and just 30 million when valued in December. His strong end to the season and first international start for Argentina earlier this year has led to his value rising.
Garnacho’s value can be placed in context against other Argentine teenagers across the past two decades, where he ranks very highly indeed.
How Alejandro Garnacho compares
Alejandro Garnacho is one of Argentina’s most promising young players. Not just in 2024 – but across the past 20 years.
Using Transfermarkt’s own metrics, sourced via BolaVIP, Alejandro Garnacho is ranked as the second most valuable Argentine teenager across the past two decades.
Only Lionel Messi was valued at the time as more valuable than Garnacho, with the Manchester United winger surpassing Sergio Aguero at the same age.
- Lionel Messi (2007): 60 million euros
- Alejandro Garnacho (2024): 45 million euros
- Sergio Agüero (2009): 30 million euros
- Lautaro Martínez (2018): 25 million euros
- Matías Soulé (2023): 25 million euros
- Erik Lamela (2013): 22 million euros
- Thiago Almada (2019): 20 million euros
- Exequiel Palacios (2019): 20 million euros
- Fernando Gago (2007): 20 million euros
- Facundo Buonanotte (2024): 18 million euros
What Alejandro Garnacho is worth to Manchester United
The valuation placed on Alejandro Garnacho, while modest, is high in comparison to his compatriots over the past two decades.
Garnacho’s true value to Manchester United is of course far more than 45 million Euros. If a bid was received for him for that amount – United would not even bother to reply.
United paid a minuscule six-figure fee to sign Garnacho in 2020, persuading him to join from Atletico Madrid.
He has already become a first team regular, and has contributed already to Carabao Cup trophy win in 2023, and in an even more meaningful way in 2024, scoring in the FA Cup Final win over Manchester City.
Garnacho has a tough task for Argentina, where they hope he will step into Lionel Messi’s boots when he retires. There will only ever be one Messi, but Garnacho is turning out to be a very special player in his own right.