Ten Hag believes Manchester United youngster has the ‘X-factor’ in quest to become world-class

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·24 de agosto de 2024

Ten Hag believes Manchester United youngster has the ‘X-factor’ in quest to become world-class

Erik ten Hag says Alejandro Garnacho has a “long way” to go to become world-class but he believes the Manchester United forward has the “X-factor” to achieve this status on the biggest stage.

Garnacho is one of few United players that could be considered out-of-bounds for prospective buyers in the transfer market this summer. Along with Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund, the Argentina international is seen as the future of United.

Vídeos OneFootball

The 20-year-old scored 10 goals last season in all competitions but, according to his manager, still has a lot of work to do in order to achieve greatness in the game.

“You go very quickly [to put this] – world-class player” he has to go a long way,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by The Guardian. “He has high potential, he showed last season he can contribute and be a starting player. To make the jump and become a world-class player it starts with very hard work.

“That brought him to where he is now and that will bring him to that world-class player, I agree he has the potential.

“Every club at the top needs players with the X-factor. We have already seen on occasions that he has shown the X-factor, so if you want to be that player that people are saying is world class then you have to do it consistently. He has that skill.”

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When asked about Mainoo at his press conference ahead of the trip to Brighton, Ten Hag hailed the youngster’s versatility, adding: “He collected such good experiences and those will help him to become a better player, 100%.

“Where do I see him? The perfect midfielder is one who is very good in attacking, very good in defending. He as a player can do that. He can play as an attacking midfielder and also as a holding midfielder.

“We have to see from situation to situation and occasion to occasion who is available, the opponents, where we can hurt the opponent or take some strength from the opponent out, where we use the players.”

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