Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has admitted that they are focused on making Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho an all-round better player, so he doesn’t just “burn in stages”.
The Argentina boss has been speaking to the press ahead of his side’s clash with Guatemala, ahead of their participation in the Copa America this summer.
He found himself being asked about Garnacho, who is yet to fully establish himself on the international stage despite his rapid rise at Manchester United.
He enters this summer after another strong season under Erik ten Hag in which it could be argued that he was Manchester United’s player of the season, with ten goals and five assists in 50 games a super offering from the 19-year-old.
His club form is yet to really translate into international status, though, with Scaloni continuing to prefer older more established players to date and only handing the Manchester United youngster five appearances and 166 minutes of football since his debut in June 2023.
That has naturally raised eyebrows given his performances in England, but it seems it’s all part of the plan, with Scaloni insisting they want to ensure they can get more from him moving forwards first.
“He’s fine, he’s training with us,” he said.
“He’s a guy who, as I said the other day, not only shouldn’t burn in stages but also come in when we think he can do it in a match. It didn’t happen like that against Ecuador, but if tomorrow is the possibility, we will give him minutes.
“He is a boy in whom we have a lot of expectations. We have to carry him in the way we believe with the entire coaching staff, talking to him and insisting that there are things he has to do more often.
“He has one against one, he is fast and that is what he has to do more often. That’s what we try to talk to him about doing.”
