Garnacho’s metamorphosis: from losing a place in the national team to returning to shine in United ahead of the Copa América

In 2023, Alejandro Garnacho realized a dream he had cultivated since he was a child: he officially debuted with the Argentine national team in the friendly match that Scaloneta played against Australia, in China, on 15 June. Then, Lionel Scaloni called him up again for the first window of the South American qualifiers in September, where he played just 6 minutes against Bolivia at the always complicated odds of La Paz.

Garnacho was called up again in October (he was on the bench against Paraguay and Peru), but in November he was not on the list for the spicy double date against Uruguay and Brazil.

At that point Pujato’s coach had explained the reasons for his decision: “It’s a question of football. We don’t like bringing in players and constantly leaving them out or leaving them out of the squad. Everyone wants to be there and it’s great, but the human part plays a role and decisions have to be made”.

He then added: “It would have been easy to bring him, but in the last few calls he didn’t have minutes and there are moments when decisions have to be made, but he is a boy who is on our radar and who will continue to be and who has a huge future”.

At the same time, Garnacho found himself in a similar situation at the Red Devils, where he was slowly starting to lose ground in Erik Ten Hag’s consideration due to his performance.

But all this seems to be behind us after the footballer’s spectacular start to the year, which thrilled not only the fans of the English team, but also the fans of the Albiceleste.

The young nineteen-year-old has gone from less to more and in recent times has become the undisputed starter for Ten Hag. In November and December last year he was chosen as the Premier League player of the month for his outstanding performances.

But that is not all. At the beginning of the year Garnacho showed improvements on an individual level, but also in his role within the game structure planned by the coach.

Last Sunday, for example, in the 3-0 against West Ham, the Argentine was decisive and scored a brace so much so that Old Trafford collapsed and a crowd of fans acclaimed him with applause and singing.

The high-level football that Garnacho has shown in the first months of the year is crucial for two main reasons. The first, to contribute with his game to a Manchester United that is going through a very irregular 2023-24 season, where he was excluded in the first round of the Champions League, eliminated in the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup, and is still in the round of 16 of the FA Cup and is sixth in the Premier League, in the qualifying positions for the Europa Leauge.

On the other hand, if he continues on this path, the attacker could be called up by Lionel Scaloni to play in the Copa América which will be played in the United States from June to July this year.

Garnacho ignored Di María

“The only thing I wouldn’t do is celebrate Cristiano, ah. I would score the goal and do what Messi does, I’ll stick to that.”Ángel Di María said some time ago in an interview for TyC Sports.

It is no mystery the admiration and fanaticism that Garnacho feels for Cristiano Ronaldo, who he considers the best footballer in the world, even superior to Lionel Messi.

This is why his nickname ‘Bichito’ is not surprising, as are his celebrations in which he tries to emulate the Portuguese star. Something that Fideo doesn’t like very much.

In the second goal he scored last weekend in the victory against West Ham, the Spaniard emulated CR7 and celebrated his goal by going directly into the stands with the fans, sitting with his back to them, while he waited for the rest of his teammates. .