Manchester United academy hopeful Alvaro Fernandez believes Alejandro Garnacho’s fearlessness has helped him excel when given his first-team break.
The 18-year-old scored twice and assisted two more goals in the four games before the World Cup break, his crowning moment coming when he swept home a stoppage-time winner against Fulham.
The teenager has featured in each of United's three games since the break and has been serenaded by a new ‘Viva Garnacho ’ chant from the United supporters who used to chant 'Viva Ronaldo'.
READ MORE: United fans replace Ronaldo with Garnacho in iconic chant
Garnacho's former academy teammate Fernandez is also enjoying regular senior football elsewhere. The Spaniard, 19, has played 20 times for loan club Preston and has grabbed four assists in 14 starts. The left-back has also kept five clean sheets having often been played as a wing-back.
Fernandez and Garnacho were named Under-23 and Under-18 player of the season respectively last term. The pair have a close relationship with both men having being born in Spain and hailing from the youth ranks of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid respectively.
Fernandez praised his friend for his breakthrough at United and said that his characteristics have helped in his quick rise. "He is daring,” Fernandez told Revelo.
“Since he arrived he has improved a lot, he has gone up. They have given him the opportunity and he has done incredible. In one-on-ones he does not back down. He dares - that, in England, is very important.”
Fernandez outlined how Garnacho and former United academy colleague Mateo Meija helped him settle into life in Manchester upon his 2020 switch from Madrid. He also described Juan Mata, who left in the summer after an eight-year stay, as a father figure.
"Garnacho, Mateo Mejía, Arnau Puigmal… They were my family,” he added, before confessing: “It was quarantine and we secretly met.
“Juan Mata was my father there [at United]. I knew he was Spanish and he was always very close. I have no complaints with [David] De Gea either.”
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