Spanish eye Garnacho as the dual in their crown
SPAIN still want Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho to ditch Argentina – and become a part of their future with young stars Gavi and Pedri.
And the former World and
European champions are making plans for another attempt to persuade the 18-year-old to join them – with a promise of immediate caps.
The highly-prized United winger has dual nationality through his Argentinian mother and Spanish father.
Before moving to
Manchester, Madrid-born
Garnacho had lived all his life in Spain and played three times for their
Under-18s before taking up an offer to join the
Argentina Under-20 squad.
He was invited into
Argentina’s senior gettogether almost a year ago.
Chance
Garnacho didn’t feature in either of their matches during that international break... meaning he is still eligible for Spain.
Having been fast-tracked into United’s first team squad by Erik ten Hag, Garnacho believed he had an outside chance of playing alongside Lionel Messi in the Qatar World Cup in November.
Those hopes were raised when Argentina suffered two late injury withdrawals before the tournament but manager Lionel Scaloni chose 21-yearold winger Thiago Almada from MLS side Atlanta United ahead of him.
That disappointed Garnacho – and initiated a conversation with
Spain officials, raising hopes that they could still persuade him to return to their set-up.
National boss Luis
Enrique (right) has been impressed with Garnacho’s development and is believed to have watched him at the Nou Camp last week when he came on as a substitute in the thrilling 2-2 Europa League draw with Barcelona.
Spain have two Euro 2024 qualifiers at the end of next month, at home to Norway and away in Scotland.
And Enrique in understood to be set to hand Garnacho a senior debut if he switches to the country of his birth.
Spain are building for the future with Barcelona trio Gavi, Pedri and former Manchester City striker Ferran Torres all part of Enrique’s plans.
Garnacho’s emerging talent perfectly fits Enrique’s blueprint – and United won’t complain if he chooses Spain.
United already have five South American stars who play international football – Casemiro, Fred and Antony for Brazil, Lisandro Martinez for Argentina and Uruguayan youngster Facundo Pellistri.
That involves considerably more travel than for European-based international stars and it would ease the burden if Garnacho plumped for Spain over Argentina. United, of course, would not seek to influence Garnacho either way – and the youngster has a big ally in his own dressing room with World Cup winner Martinez.
The tough Argentinian defender, signed in a £56.7million deal from Ajax last summer, is already predicting Garnacho will have a big future in the light blue and white stripes after he impressed during that squad gettogether last March.
United, meanwhile, are working hard to reach agreement on a bumper new contract for Garnacho – with the world’s big clubs watching closely.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint-germain and Bayern Munich are all keeping close tabs on the thrill-a-minute winger who has yet to pen a new deal.
Old Trafford negotiators are still in talks with Garnacho’s advisers but club sources say they hope to conclude the deal shortly.