Alejandro Garnacho has been tipped to achieve “superstar” status in world football, with former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt suggesting that a future move to La Liga giants Barcelona or Real Madrid could take his career to new heights.
The young Argentine winger has firmly established himself as one of the brightest talents at Old Trafford since joining from Atletico Madrid’s youth ranks in 2020. Despite only being 21 years old, Garnacho has already become a key figure in Manchester United’s attack, scoring 22 goals in 104 appearances across all competitions. This season, his form has been impressive, netting seven goals and providing four assists in just 18 games.
Garnacho’s journey to the first team at United has been rapid. After impressing for the Under-21s, he earned a spot in the senior squad and made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea during the 2021/22 season. A year later, he scored his first goal for the club in the Europa League against Real Sociedad, further cementing his place as one of the most exciting young players in Europe.
However, despite his growing influence at United, Butt believes Garnacho’s potential could truly be realized if he eventually moves to one of Spain’s footballing powerhouses. Speaking on Football’s Greatest Podcast, Butt explained, “The Premier League is the best league in the world, but all the best players often leave for Spain—Real Madrid or Barcelona. Those clubs elevate players to superstar status, not only on the pitch but in global recognition.”
Butt added that although Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, players often view a move to Spain as an opportunity to take their careers to the next level, pointing to players like Kylian Mbappe, who is now a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid. “Garnacho is doing well at United now, but if he continues to develop, it’s easy to imagine him being drawn to the allure of Real Madrid or Barcelona,” Butt said.
As Garnacho continues his impressive development under new United head coach Ruben Amorim, the idea of a move to one of Spain’s elite clubs seems to be a real possibility for the talented winger in the future. For now, Garnacho’s focus will likely remain on achieving success at Old Trafford, but his growing stature and potential could see him follow in the footsteps of the world’s biggest football stars.
