Who is Alejandro Garnacho? Manchester United youngster called up to Argentina squad alongside Lionel Messi
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Manchester United youngster Alejandro Garnacho has been selected in Argentina’s latest senior international squad.
The 17-year-old, who is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club, has impressed for United’s Under-23 and Under-18 sides this season and has played a pivotal role in the latter’s run to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, scoring four goals from as many appearances in the competition.
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Hide AdGarnacho has also played 25 games this season across United’s youth teams and has scored 10 goals. The Madrid-born attacker can play on either wing and is also adept at operating through the centre.
He joined the club in 2020 from Atletico Madrid and is highly rated by those at Old Trafford.
Garnacho has represented Spain at youth level but has been called up by Argentina, presumably to tempt the youngster into playing for La Albiceleste, who he is eligible to play for through his mother, rather than the country of his birth.
However, even if Garnacho does represent Argentina in their upcoming games, the United player will still be able to switch back to Spain, as long as he does not play more than three games for the reigning South American champions.
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Hide AdArgentina play Venezuela and Ecuador in World Cup qualifiers later this month, and with the two-time World champions already qualified, manager Lionel Scaloni has named an experimental squad.
In fact, he’s called up a remarkable 44 players for the double header, including Angel Di Maria, Paulo Dybala and Lionel Messi.
Garnacho won’t be the only England-based player involved in the squad, with Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa}, Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) also selected.
Argentina and Brazil are the only sides from South America to have secured their spot at the World Cup so far, with the final two games determining the other two sides who will automatically qualify, and which team will head into the play-offs.