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Man Utd extend Alejandro Garnacho’s deal – and block him from Argentina duty
The 18-year-old winger is close to a return from injury and could yet play a part in the Premier League run-in and FA Cup final
Alejandro Garnacho has signed a new five-year deal to stay at Manchester United, who have blocked him playing for Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup next month.
Garnacho, 18, has been in talks over a contract to commit his future to Old Trafford and has now put pen-to-paper on fresh terms, with his new contract taking him to 2028.
He is close to returning from an ankle injury and United manager Erik ten Hag wants him to be part of the final club games of the campaign rather than play in the Under-20 tournament in his homeland.
Javier Mascherano, the coach of the Argentina Under-20s, selected the teenager for his squad to meet up ahead of the May 20 start when his team plays Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero. Mascherano, the former Liverpool midfielder, travelled to England for talks after the club-vs-country row erupted.
But United have been adamant they will not release Garnacho for the tournament while they are still in the hunt for a Champions League return and have reached the FA Cup final. Garnacho would have missed at least two Premier League matches, against Bournemouth and Fulham, had he played for his country.
“No, we don’t release him,” said Ten Hag, when asked whether Garnacho will go to the tournament.
Garnacho has been sidelined since March 12 when he was injured against Southampton, although this did not prevent him from being picked for his country for the Under-20 tournament. Manchester City’s Máximo Perrone and Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte were also selected.
Ten Hag has lost Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane to injuries in his defence and wants as many fit players as possible for the final month of the season.
“Yes he [Garnacho] will now return in team training, partially,” Ten Hag said. “Then we will have to see when he can return totally in the training, and back into games.”
Ten Hag was disappointed with United players dropping their levels in the second half against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday evening and next he faces in-form Aston Villa who are competing for a European place.
“As Man United, a top team, you have to compete and go for the win in every competition you are in,” Ten Hag said. “That’s what we are doing, that is the culture we want to construct, that is what we’re doing. That has to be in the mindset of every player and every employee who is working for Manchester United.”