Alejandro Garnacho ponders international U-turn as Man Utd work on new contract

18 February 2023 , 10:01

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Spain still want Manchester United star 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 Manchester United winger has dual nationality with an Argentinian mother and Spanish father.

Madrid-born Garnacho has 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. However, the United star was invited into Argentina’s senior squad get-together almost a year ago although didn’t play in either of their matches during that international break meaning he could still play for Spain.

Having been fast-tracked into United’s first team squad by Erik ten Hag, Garnacho believed he had an outside chance of being involved 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-year-old winger Thiago Almada from MLS side Atlanta United ahead of Garnacho.

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That left the Old Trafford youngster disappointed - and started a conversation with Spain officials raising hopes that they could still persuade him to return to their set-up.

National boss Luis Enrique 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.

Alejandro Garnacho has played for Argentina's Under 20s and was called up to the senior squad without making an appearance (Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)

Spain have two Euro 2024 qualifiers at the end of next month, at home to Norway and away in Scotland. And it’s believed Enrique would be ready to hand Garnacho a senior debut if he switched to the country of his birth.

The Spanish boss is 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 if the teenager chose Spain, United wouldn’t be unhappy either.

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 Pillestri.

That involves considerably more travel than for European based international stars and it would be a less complicated scenario if Garnacho chose Spain ahead of Argentina.

Garnacho has become an important part of Man Utd's squad this season (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

United, of course, would not seek to influence Garnacho either way - and the youngster has a big Argentinian ally in his own dressing room with World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez.

The tough South American defender, signed in a £56.7 deal from Ajax last summer, is already predicting Garnacho will have a big future with Argentina after the star impressed during his squad get-together last March.

United, meanwhile, are working hard to reach agreement on a bumper new deal for Garnacho - with the world’s big clubs watching closely. Real Madrid, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich are all keeping close tabs on the exciting winger who has yet to pen a new deal.

Old Trafford negotiators are still in talks with Garnacho’s advisers over his new contract but club sources say they hope to conclude the deal shortly.