Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe believes Alejandro Garnacho is an “exceptional talent” but the 20-year-old must improve his decision making “in the final third” if he is to reach his full potential.
Sharpe arrived at Old Trafford in 1988 as a 17-year-old from Torquay United, combining speed and skill in equal measure, which led to him quickly establishing himself in the United first-team under Sir Alex Ferguson, despite his age.
The English international would go on to win three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup, thee Charity shields and a European Cup Winner’s Cup. He would also be awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 1991.
There are few, therefore, better suited to understanding how a young winger can establish themselves at Old Trafford than Sharpe. And speaking in an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person, courtesy of Racing Tipster, the 53-year-old offered a template for how Garnacho, who moved to United as a 16-year-old from Atletico Madrid, can improve as a player.
“Sometimes [Garnacho] gets a little bit greedy and goes for goal when he’s not quite set for it, or picks a pass out in the final third not well enough, or not early enough at the moment.”
Sharpe also questioned the young Argentine’s defensive qualities, with new head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system often employing attacking wingers as wingbacks, as evidenced by the emergence of Geovany Quenda as a RWB for Sporting this season.
“I’m not sure I’d trust [Garnacho] defensively if he’s going to be a wingback,” the former winger concluded, leaving one of the front three as the only home for the 20-year-old.
However, Sharpe was effusive in his praise of Garnacho’s abilities on the ball, both in front of goal and when dribbling at defenders. “I think he scores unbelievable goals, I think he goes past players, he entertains, he looks forward all the time.”
It’s almost a prerequisite to be a successful winger at Old Trafford that you lift bums off seats when you are fed the ball in the opposition half; and out of the entire United squad, there is no one who does this more than Garnacho.
The Argentinian international is also the club’s top scorer this season, while ranking joint third for assists. Given United’s struggles in front of goal – only three sides have scored less in the Premier League – it feels as if helping Garnacho to continue improving as a difference maker in the final third will be pivotal for Amorim’s hopes of success this year.
But the 20-year-old will need to heed the advice of a former incumbent of the Old Trafford left-wing spot, and refine his decision making in the opponent’s half by better utilising his team mates, rather than single-mindedly focusing on the goal.
The threat in the defender’s mind that Garnacho has the vision and skill to pass, rather than simply shoot, will produce better chances on goal, as the Argentine will become an even more unpredictable player to deal with.
Featured image Burak Kara via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
