1. Overview
Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester United and the Argentina national team. Born in Madrid, Spain, Garnacho began his youth career at Getafe before joining Atlético Madrid in 2015. He moved to Manchester United's youth system in 2020, where he quickly rose through the ranks, winning the FA Youth Cup and the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2022.
Garnacho made his first-team debut for Manchester United at the age of 17 in April 2022. The 2022-23 season marked his breakthrough, as he scored his first senior goals in the UEFA Europa League and Premier League, and signed a long-term contract. In the 2023-24 season, he became an established starter, scoring a spectacular bicycle kick against Everton that earned him multiple Goal of the Season awards, including the FIFA Puskás Award in 2024. He also played a crucial role in Manchester United's FA Cup victory that season.
Internationally, Garnacho holds dual nationality for Spain and Argentina. After representing Spain at the U18 level, he chose to represent Argentina, making his debut for the U20 team in 2022 and the senior national team in 2023. He was a member of the Argentina squad that won the 2024 Copa América title. Known for his speed, dribbling, and creativity, Garnacho's playing style is often compared to his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.
2. Early Life and Background
2.1. Birth and Upbringing
Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra was born on July 1, 2004, in Madrid, Spain. He is approximately 71 in (180 cm) (5 ft 11 in) tall and weighs around 176 lb (80 kg) (176 lb). His father, Alex Garnacho, is Spanish, and his mother, Patricia Ferreyra Fernández, is Argentine. He has a younger brother named Roberto. Garnacho began his football journey at a young age, joining the youth system of Getafe CF before moving to Atlético Madrid in 2015. During his time at Atlético Madrid's academy, he quickly distinguished himself, even scoring 13 goals in a single match, showcasing his early talent.
2.2. Dual Nationality and National Team Choice
Due to his birthplace in Spain and his mother's Argentine heritage, Garnacho holds dual nationality, making him eligible to represent both the Spanish and Argentine national teams. While he initially played for Spain at the U18 level, he ultimately chose to represent Argentina for his senior international career. This decision was notably influenced by his admiration for Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, alongside his appreciation for Cristiano Ronaldo.
3. Club Career
Garnacho's club career began in the youth ranks of Spanish clubs before his significant move to Manchester United, where he progressed from the academy to become a key first-team player.
3.1. Youth Career
Garnacho's youth career saw him develop through the academies of two prominent clubs, first in Spain and then in England.
3.1.1. Atlético Madrid Youth
In 2015, Alejandro Garnacho joined the youth system of Atlético Madrid from Getafe CF. During his tenure at Atlético, he primarily featured for the Juvenil B team but also made appearances for their U19 squad. His performances during this period were highly impressive, with one notable instance where he scored 13 goals in a single match, highlighting his exceptional talent at a young age.
3.1.2. Manchester United Youth
In October 2020, Garnacho made a significant move to the Manchester United Academy. The transfer involved a fee of 420.00 K GBP paid to Atlético Madrid. He quickly adapted to his new environment and signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in July 2021, establishing himself as a prominent forward within the U18 team.
Garnacho gained considerable attention for his solo goal in a FA Youth Cup victory over Everton, which was nominated for United's Goal of the Month award in February 2022. His outstanding contributions were further recognized in May 2022 when he was awarded the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year accolade. On May 11, he scored two crucial goals in the FA Youth Cup final against Nottingham Forest, helping Manchester United secure the title for the first time since 2011.
3.2. Manchester United First Team Career
Garnacho's transition from the youth academy to the senior squad at Manchester United has been marked by rapid progression, significant milestones, and increasing influence on the team.
3.2.1. Debut and Early Season (2021-2022)
After being named as an unused substitute for several Premier League matches, Alejandro Garnacho made his professional debut for Manchester United on April 28, 2022. He came on as a substitute for Anthony Elanga in the 91st minute of a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. This marked his first appearance for the senior team at the age of 17. He made a total of two Premier League appearances during the 2021-22 season under manager Ralf Rangnick.
3.2.2. Breakthrough and Growth (2022-2023)
For the start of the 2022-23 Premier League season, Garnacho changed his shirt number from 75 to 49. He earned his first senior start for United on October 27, 2022, in a 3-0 victory over Moldovan team Sheriff Tiraspol in the UEFA Europa League. Following this match, manager Erik ten Hag praised Garnacho for his improved attitude and resilience, despite previous dissatisfaction. Garnacho was also voted Man of the Match for his performance as a left winger, and former United player Paul Scholes notably compared him to a young Cristiano Ronaldo.
On November 3, he scored his first senior goal in a Europa League match against Real Sociedad, with an assist from his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. This was the only goal in a 1-0 away win. Garnacho then scored his first Premier League goal on November 13, an injury-time winner against Fulham, again being voted Man of the Match. On January 14, 2023, in the Manchester derby, Garnacho set up Marcus Rashford's 82nd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory against Manchester City, becoming the youngest player (18 years and 197 days) to provide an assist in a Manchester derby in the Premier League era.
On March 1, 2023, Garnacho scored in the 90th minute of an FA Cup fifth-round match against West Ham United, contributing to a 3-1 victory and earning him another Man of the Match award. However, on March 14, he announced he would be sidelined for several weeks after suffering an ankle ligament injury during a game against Southampton. Despite the injury setback, Garnacho signed a new contract extension with the club on April 28, committing his future until June 30, 2028. He returned from his two-month injury lay-off on May 13, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 victory against Wolves, which also marked United's 100th goal of the season. During this season, Garnacho was part of the squad that won the EFL Cup: 2022-23.
3.2.3. Established Starter and FA Cup Win (2023-2024)
At the beginning of the 2023-24 Premier League season, Manchester United announced that Garnacho's squad number would be changed from 49 to 17. On September 3, 2023, in a 3-1 away defeat to Arsenal, Garnacho scored in the 88th minute, but the goal was controversially ruled offside by VAR, a decision with which manager Erik ten Hag publicly disagreed.
On November 26, Garnacho scored his first league goal of the season with a spectacular bicycle kick from 15 yd out to open the scoring in a 3-0 win over Everton. This goal earned him widespread acclaim, with some comparing it to Wayne Rooney's famous overhead kick in the Manchester derby. It also won him the Premier League Goal of the Month for November 2023, and eventually the Premier League Goal of the Season, BBC Goal of the Season, and Manchester United Goal of the Season. He also performed Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic goal celebration after scoring, a frequent tribute to his idol. On December 17, 2024, this goal was further recognized with the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of 2023.
Three days after his Everton goal, Garnacho scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3-3 away draw against Galatasaray. On December 26, he scored two goals in a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Aston Villa, after United had been 0-2 down, earning him the Man of the Match award. He scored another brace on February 4, 2024, in a 3-0 win over West Ham United. On April 4, he scored twice once again in a 4-3 away defeat to Chelsea, becoming the first teenager since Michael Owen in the 1998-99 season to score multiple braces in three Premier League matches in a single season.
In the 2024 FA Cup final on May 25, Garnacho scored the opening goal in an eventual 2-1 win over Manchester City, securing the FA Cup title for United. His goal in the final was the first for a teenager in the FA Cup final since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004, and he also became only the second Argentinian to score in an FA Cup final after Ricardo Villa in 1981.
3.2.4. Recent Season (2024-2025)
On August 10, 2024, in the 2024 FA Community Shield, Garnacho opened the scoring against Manchester City. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and went to penalties, where Garnacho converted his penalty, but United ultimately lost the shoot-out 6-7. On September 14, he scored his first league goal for the season in a 3-0 away win over Southampton, having entered the pitch as a substitute. Three days later, on September 17, he delivered an exceptional performance, scoring two goals and providing two assists in United's dominant 7-0 rout of Barnsley in the third round of the EFL Cup.
On October 27, Garnacho made his 100th appearance for Manchester United in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United at London Stadium. Manager Erik ten Hag was sacked less than 24 hours after this result, with assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy taking charge on an interim basis. Prior to a UEFA Europa League match against PAOK on November 7, a clip emerged on social media showing a fan verbally abusing Garnacho while he was signing autographs. Three days later, in Van Nistelrooy's final match as interim manager, Garnacho scored United's third goal in their 3-0 win over Leicester City. He did not celebrate the goal, as, according to United captain Bruno Fernandes, he felt he had "lost faith" from some supporters. New head coach Ruben Amorim notably dropped Garnacho, alongside Marcus Rashford, from the squad completely for the Manchester derby on December 15, 2024, which United won 2-1.
4. International Career
Garnacho's international career has seen him represent both Spain and Argentina at youth levels before committing to the senior Argentine national team.
4.1. Youth National Teams
Alejandro Garnacho was eligible to play for both Spain, his country of birth, and Argentina, due to his mother's nationality. He initially played for Spain at the youth level, making three appearances for the Spain U18 team in 2021. He was called up for U17 training in Marbella in May 2021 and debuted for the U18 team in October 2021 in a tournament in Romania.
However, he later chose to represent Argentina. He made his debut for the Argentina U20 side on March 26, 2022, starting in a friendly match against the United States. He had a highly successful run at the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament, scoring four goals in four appearances for the U20 team. His performances earned him the Revelation Player award, the Goal of the Tournament award, and a spot in the Maurice Revello Tournament Best XI for 2022.
4.2. Argentina Senior National Team
Garnacho received his first call-up to the senior Argentina team on March 7, 2022, as part of an initial 44-man squad for two World Cup qualifiers that month. He made it to the final 33-man squad for those fixtures but did not make an appearance in either game.
In March 2023, he was called up again for two friendly matches against Panama and Curaçao, but had to withdraw from the squad after suffering an ankle injury. Garnacho eventually made his senior international debut on June 15, 2023, during a friendly against Australia at Workers' Stadium in Beijing, China, coming on as a substitute for Nicolás González in the second half.
In June 2024, Garnacho was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América. He was part of the team that went on to win the tournament, marking a significant achievement in his early international career.
5. Style of Play
5.1. Characteristics and Influence
Alejandro Garnacho is an energetic forward who has garnered praise for his exceptional dribbling abilities, remarkable speed, and innate creativity. He is known for his capacity to create scoring opportunities and effectively position himself within the penalty box. At Manchester United, he is frequently deployed as a winger on either the left or right flank, utilizing his pace and skill to take on defenders.
He is widely regarded as one of the most promising prospects to emerge from Manchester United's academy. Former United coach Mike Phelan described Garnacho as embodying "everything that Manchester United is about" and lauded him as "an intelligent player who understands his role in the team."
Garnacho's playing style has been heavily influenced by his idol, former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. He frequently performs Ronaldo's iconic goal celebrations after scoring goals, openly acknowledging the Portuguese superstar's impact on his game. His style has also drawn comparisons to Argentine winger Ángel Di María, particularly for their similar positions and attacking attributes.
6. Personal Life
6.1. Family
Alejandro Garnacho was born in Madrid, Spain, to a Spanish father, Alex Garnacho, and an Argentine mother, Patricia Ferreyra Fernández. He has a younger brother named Roberto. His father, Alex, is closely involved with Garnacho's career, being associated with Leader Sports Management, the firm that currently represents him. Garnacho and his girlfriend, Eva, welcomed their son, Enzo, into the world on October 4, 2023.
7. Career Statistics
7.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United U21 | 2021-22 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2022-23 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | - | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Manchester United | 2021-22 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022-23 | Premier League | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | - | 34 | 5 | ||
| 2023-24 | Premier League | 36 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | - | 50 | 10 | ||
| 2024-25 | Premier League | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 8 | |
| Total | 83 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 126 | 23 | ||
| Career total | 83 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 129 | 24 | ||
7.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | |
8. Honours
8.1. Club and Individual Awards
Manchester United U18
- FA Youth Cup: 2021-22
Manchester United
- FA Cup: 2023-24
- EFL Cup: 2022-23
Argentina
- Copa América: 2024
Individual
- Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2021-22
- Maurice Revello Tournament Revelation Player: 2022
- Maurice Revello Tournament Best XI: 2022
- Maurice Revello Tournament Goal of the Tournament: 2022
- IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2023
- FIFA Puskás Award: 2024
- Premier League Goal of the Season: 2023-24
- Premier League Goal of the Month: November 2023
- BBC Goal of the Season: 2023-24
- Manchester United Goal of the Season: 2023-24