After pledging his long-term future to Manchester United at the age of 18, Alejandro Garnacho is expected to progress and compete for a regular starting position, according to Erik Ten Hag.
In the final wave of foreign signings before the Brexit regulations changed in 2020, the talented winger moved from Atletico Madrid to Old Trafford.
After helping United win the FA Youth Cup and winning the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award the previous year, Garnacho made his first-team debut in April.
After disappointing Ten Hag, the Argentina youth international missed the preseason trip to Thailand and Australia. However, the Dutchman has since been won over, and the player has signed a new contract through 2028.
First of all, the United manager remarked of Garnacho, “I think he has the prize and it’s a prize.” In addition, he demonstrates that he is capable of taking decisive action.
But now is a new beginning, a restart, as there will undoubtedly be higher demands and expectations.
He is moving forward; his strong character accounts for why he is present at this level right now and did it all by himself.
“However, there is more work ahead of him since the stakes are bigger and we have larger expectations for him.
But it’s excellent that he did it because it shows that young players will be given opportunities, but they must earn them.
“When I say ‘give,’ translate it to ‘deserve,’ and they have to prove it on the pitch with their feet. This requires significant investment and deserving through training performances and under-21 performance, followed by waiting for your chance to prove it once more.
“For Alejandro, he is that next step, but the demands will be considerably greater now that he must contend for a starting XI spot,” the author said.
“Therefore, the rules remain the same every time: you must push your limitations and advance to the next level.
We support him during that challenge, but the player must complete it.
Ten Hag identified another U21 standout who is “on his way” to the first team since he is well aware of Manchester United’s strong tradition of nurturing young talent.
“I am familiar with Man United’s culture, as I have been for a long time in youth football, and I have had multiple encounters with them at significant competitions in the Netherlands.
Man United has a long history of young development, which was one of the topics we discussed in our conversations last year. “In U15, Man United was always there. It’s the biggest tournament for U15 teams, but in the past, everyone knew and spoke about Busby Babes and Generation 92.
We want to develop [players into the first team], I think we are in that perspective, Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo is also on his way. “Ajax was the same, as Man United, in developing young players, giving young players opportunities to work on their personality if they feel they are good persons, have a good life, and can contribute to society.
There is a route to the first team, but one must earn it. Despite our academy’s structures, outstanding work, U21 program, and training for the first team, talent must prevail on its own.