What Erik ten Hag has said about Alejandro Garnacho amid fresh Man Utd contract reports

Manchester United face uncertainty surrounding the future of Alejandro Garnacho with the young star now in the last 18 months of his contract.

Garnacho has made a big impact this season, and he stood out again after coming off the bench during United’s comeback win against Manchester City over the weekend. The winger is expected to have a big future, and United fans are getting very excited about the youngster, despit him not yet pledged his long-term future to the club.

As things stand, Garnacho is under contract until the summer of 2024 - albeit United could extend that deal to 2025 with an option - and talks have been ongoing over a new deal. Reports have differed over how those negotiations are going. The Independent have reported that Garnacho has rejected a contract offer worth £20,000-per-week, currently earning £7,000-per-week.

Though, The Telegraph say a new long-term deal is ‘close’ to being agreed, with discussions progressing well. In the meantime, the likes of Real Madrid have been linked with a move should talks not go well, adding pressure to the situation.

Fortunately, Garnacho does have a fan in current boss Erik ten Hag, who said of the Argentine’s performance against City: “He has a skill that I don’t see many players in the Premier League having - he beats players one on one. But he’s learnt in the last months about how to play in a team, how to live, how to do the right things in the week, how to have the right attitude on the training ground and you see how he’s acting as a team player and with his individual skills that can make the difference.

“Also for him it’s to keep going in the process. It’s not done. There is a lot to come. There is a lot of room for improvement with him but he can help, he can contribute on the highest level already and I’m really happy. It’s a bonus for us as a club that you bring in young players and they can come not only into the squad but the team and I think that is a part of our project that has to contribute to our success.”

Ten Hag also spoke about Garnacho before the World Cup, saying: “Can he have a regular role? Depends on how his approach, how his attitude, when he keeps working, keeps this attitude, then it’s possible. That he keeps the attitude he wants to improve every day and he’s doing the right things in his lifestyle, then it’s possible.

“As you can see, he has capabilities that contribute to attacking football, he has something he can break open a really compact defending line. I think all teams who want to attack want to play in an opponent’s half, they need players like them, he can outplay them.

“And also, in the final decisions, he can do the right things. Once again, it depends on how his attitude, can he also do the defending stuff, the discipline, when he can do that, it’s possible.”

Ten Hag has only relied on Garnacho more since then, and the winger has repeatedly stepped up to the mark.