Alejandro Garnacho Has Gone From Playing In FA Youth Cup To Training With Lionel Messi In Two Weeks

Earlier this month, 17-year-old winger Alejandro Garnacho helped Manchester United to a historic FA Youth Cup final after scoring in a 3-0 win against Wolves. It was his fourth goal of the tournament.

The highly-rated forward, who signed from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2020, has yet to make his senior debut for United's first-team, but my word is he making a name for himself for club and country.

That's right. After his standout performances for the U18's this season, the teenager was handed a surprise call-up to Argentina's 44-man squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador.

Garnacho is eligible to play for La Albiceleste through his mother and recently switched allegiances after the Atletico youth product made several appearances for Spain U18's - a decision that appears to have been a wise one.

He is one of seven teenagers to make the squad and as a result, the pacey winger has been given the opportunity to train with some of the world's biggest stars, including Lautaro Martinez, Angel Correa and of course, Lionel Messi.

The 17-year-old even posed for a picture of himself alongside Messi after Argentina's most recent training session.

He uploaded the post alongside the caption: "Dreams really do come true."

Garnacho spoke to Manchester United's official channel before travelling with his national side.

"It's going to be an honour for me," he said. "I have dual nationality, so it was a unique opportunity for me. I was born in Madrid, but my mother and her family are Argentinian. It will be an honour representing Argentina, just as it was at the time playing for Spain. I'm very happy and also very excited.

"I can't wait for the moment to arrive and to then make the very most of it. My mother and the whole of my family, both the Argentinian half on my mother's side and also my Spanish family, are also very proud of how things are going for me.

"We've always been a very close-knit family unit and as a little kid I would always support both national teams. And it's something that they are also proud of too."

It has been a breakthrough year for Garnacho. Last month, United's U18 side beat Everton 4-1 in the FA Youth Cup and the highly-rated winger bagged the goal of the game.

After beating his opponent for pace before working his way into the area, the teenager beat Everton goalkeeper Patrick Nash with a cracking finish.

Then, in a nod to Cristiano Ronaldo, Garnacho performed the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's trademark 'Siu' celebration in front of those watching inside Old Trafford.

There is plenty of hype surrounding Garnacho amongst United supporters. Surely a first-team call-up is on the horizon if he continues to impress?

Topics: Alejandro Garnacho, Manchester United, Lionel Messi, Argentina

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_