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Manchester United add two youngsters to first-team squad

Man United add two youngsters to first-team squad
© Reuters
Alejandro Garnacho and Alvaro Fernandez are both promoted to the first team at Manchester United following impressive seasons at youth level.

Manchester United starlets Alejandro Garnacho and Alvaro Fernandez have seemingly become permanent fixtures of the Red Devils' first-team squad.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have overseen a disappointing campaign for the 20-time English champions, who lie sixth in the Premier League table with just two games left to play.

A number of senior United players have been widely criticised for their showings in the 2021-22 season, with Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford often coming under fire.

Thirty-seven-year old Cristiano Ronaldo's contributions means that United are still in with a shot of the top four, though, with the Portuguese bagging 18 league goals in the current season.

Incoming manager Erik ten Hag is expected to conduct a significant summer shake-up with regards to his squad amid reports of a £200m budget being readied for the current Ajax boss.

However, several academy graduates will be pining for the chance to impress Ten Hag before the 2022-23 season, and the duo of Garnacho and Fernandez have already been given a look-in under Rangnick in the final weeks of the current season.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick on April 2, 2022© Reuters

With Garnacho and Fernandez now appearing on the first-team section of the Man United website and training with the squad, the Manchester Evening News reports that the pair are now fully-fledged members of the Red Devils' senior crop.

Garnacho plied his trade in the Atletico Madrid youth ranks before making the switch to Man United in the summer of 2020, after which he scored seven goals in 17 league appearances for the Under-18s in his debut season.

The 17-year-old's strong form continued with five goals and three assists in five FA Youth Cup appearances as the Red Devils' youngsters prepare to face Nottingham Forest in next week's final.

Garnacho's exploits at youth level earned him his debut for the senior side as a late substitute against Chelsea last month, while he was on the bench for Monday's 3-0 success over Brentford.

Following his debut for the club at Old Trafford, Garnacho posted on social media: "Incredible moment making my debut at 17 years old for Manchester United in the Premier League at the Theatre of Dreams.

"I can't put into words what I'm feeling right now, I've been dreaming of this moment since I was 4 years old. Remember guys, Dreams really do come true."

Meanwhile, left-back Fernandez was another 2020 arrival from the Spanish capital, making the move from Real Madrid and immediately demonstrating his attacking qualities at youth level.

The 19-year-old has been plying his trade with the Under-23s this season and has three goals and four assists to his name from 23 Premier League 2 appearances, during which he has featured as a left-back and left midfielder.

The Spain Under-19 international is still waiting for his debut for the senior United side but has made the bench for their recent clashes with Chelsea and Brentford alongside Garnacho.

The likes of Zidane Iqbal and Hannibal Mejbri will also be hoping to get into Ten Hag's good books during pre-season, while Facundo Pellistri, James Garner and Amad Diallo will all return from loan spells.

Man United's 3-0 win over Brentford on Monday leaves them five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who boast two games in hand and can end the Red Devils' Champions League hopes with victory over Leeds United this weekend.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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