The forward looked set to be a world-beating player when he broke through two years ago, but his career is threatening to stagnate
The last time Manchester United played away to Real Sociedad in November 2022 was a very special occasion for Alejandro Garnacho. The winger's extended family had travelled up from Madrid to San Sebastian to see him make only his second competitive start for the Red Devils, and it was already a dream come true for him before the game kicked-off as Garnacho found himself partnering his childhood hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, in attack in the final game of United's Europa League group-stage campaign.
The dream got even better when Ronaldo played a through ball which the then-18-year-old Garnacho ran onto and smashed into the roof of the net to score his first senior goal. His father, Alex, couldn't keep himself from crying in the main stand out of happiness. The goal began a thrilling few weeks for Garnacho, who went on to spark United's comeback victory over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and then struck a last-minute winner against Fulham.
Fast-forward two-and-a-half years later, Garnacho and United are heading back to San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League, just after playing Fulham. But things could hardly be more different for player and club.
Garnacho looked like being United's future flagbearer after his breakthrough season and he consolidated his progress last season, as his outrageous bicycle kick against Everton and his opener in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City lighting up an otherwise dismal campaign for the club. But United have got even worse in this season, and Garnacho hasn't just stagnated; he has gone backwards…
Getty Images SportGoal drought
Garnacho has not scored for United in any competition since netting against Bodo/Glimt on November 28. It is his longest goal drought since breaking into the senior team, even longer than when he was sidelined for two months in his debut campaign with an ankle injury. His tally of three league goals matches his breakthrough season, and that is despite him starting triple the amount of games and having two extra years of experience.
What is strange about the Argentina international's plight is that he is still causing plenty of danger, and United look a far better team when he is on the pitch than when he is not. Take the recent FA Cup tie against Fulham, when Ruben Amorim's side looked flat and shy in attack until Garnacho was introduced early in the second half.
It was he who played the through ball which led to Diogo Dalot setting up Bruno Fernandes to equalise, and Garnacho had four attempts on goal himself, more than any player on the pitch. Two of those efforts were classified as 'big chances' and both were ones that the free-spirited Garnacho of the previous two seasons would have gleefully buried. It was also telling that he did not step up to take a penalty in the shootout.
Those wasted opportunities on Sunday are part of a broader pattern of a player who seems to have lost his confidence in front of goal. There are further statistics to prove that claim: Garnacho has the lowest conversion rate of any Premier League player to have had 10 or more 'big chances', and since Amorim's first game in charge in November, Garnacho has attempted more shots without scoring than any other player in the league.
His failed attempts to score against Fulham can be filed alongside his glaring miss from close range against Tottenham and his over-hit finish against West Ham that ended up rattling the bar in a 2-1 defeat that proved to be Erik ten Hag's last game in charge.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportNot creating chances either
Garnacho is ranked eighth in the Premier League when it comes to 'big chances' missed, having squandered 12 such opportunities. He is in esteemed company in that sense, level with Cole Palmer and Raul Jimenez while below Ollie Watkins, Erling Haaland, Kai Havertz and Mohamez Salah, among others. But the majority of the players on that list miss so many chances because they also score so many. Garnacho, however, has the joint-fewest goals of the players on the list, tied with Dominic Calvert-Lewin on three. Palmer, who looked to be on a similar trajectory to him in 2023, has 14 strikes. Jimenez has nine.
Garnacho is not compensating for his lack of goals with assists either. He has six in all competitions, while in the Premier League it is just one. That is one third of the assists provided by Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson.
He cannot blame his team-mates' poor finishing for his low assist count either. The forward has created just three 'big chances' himself, as many as Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. That tally looks even worse when you consider Eriksen has started just seven league games all season, having last appeared in a starting line-up against Newcastle in late December, or that Casemiro has started only five league games since Amorim took charge.
GettyLoved by fans
Garnacho is a fascinating figure in this United team. He has an incredibly high ceiling in terms of what he could go on to achieve, and it should not be forgotten that he is still only 20. That is why many United fans were anxious about the prospect of him leaving in the January transfer window, particularly as Chelsea looked like being his most likely destination.
The fact that he came through the club's academy – albeit having only arrived at the age of 16 from Atletico Madrid – and was the talisman of the 2022 FA Youth Cup-winning side has furthered strengthened fans' feelings towards him. Garnacho is many ways a pure Manchester United player, someone who gets fans off their seats and generates excitement. Even when he missing chances, he keeps his head up and keeps trying. United fans value that. Coaches, however, have had a tougher relationship with him.
Getty But a headache for managers
Ten Hag carefully oversaw Garnacho's rise into the team, and his management of the player, as well as the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo, was one of the Dutchman's greatest achievements during his time in the Old Trafford dugout. But he had to handle a whole load of problems when it came to the tempestuous youngster.
Garnacho was late for breakfast while the team were staying in Thailand for their pre-season tour of 2022, and Ten Hag punished him by leaving him out for the remainder of the games. The Argentine was also among a number of players who joined Ronaldo in leaving a pre-season match against Rayo Vallecano before full-time
Garnacho eventually gained Ten Hag's confidence and became one of the best players in the team, but that did not prevent further infractions, such as liking critical posts of the Dutchman's management on social media. He also risked a ban from the Football Association for a social media post he made about Andre Onana, though he eventually escaped punishment.
Ten Hag and Garnacho's relationship was a bit like that of a father and son, and while there were moments of tension, there was clearly a lot of shared affection. When the Dutchman was sacked, Garnacho penned him a heartfelt message, writing on Instagram:"Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club. It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future."
