In pictures: Galatasaray v Man Utd
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho will be hoping that Rio Ferdinand did not put a curse on him by describing him as the ‘real deal’ after scoring against Galatasaray on Wednesday night. Garnacho fired the Red Devils in front after just 11 minutes with an impressive finish from close range, which marked his second goal for United in just four days.
Garnacho was picked out by Bruno Fernandes before taking a touch and smashing the ball into the top corner, leaving Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera clawing at thin air. Ferdinand was left particularly impressed by the strike and waxed lyrical over Garnacho as he ran the rule over his goal on TNT Sports.
“Garnacho is the real deal, there’s no doubt in my mind,” he said. “He is the real deal. This kid, ice in his veins. A spectacular goal at the weekend and the importance of this one to silence the crowd in an intimidating environment.”
It seems clear that Ferdinand expects Garnacho to be the next big thing at United after demonstrating his sky-high potential on many occasions since breaking into the side. However, the former Red Devils man does not have a great track record when it comes to identifying young players with the ability to reach the very top.
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In a column for The Telegraph back in 2010, he picked out the likes of Tom Cleverley and Andy Carroll as future England stars with the potential to lead the Three Lions to international glory. The duo ended up winning just 22 caps between them, leaving Ferdinand red-faced and doing very little to back up his talent-spotting abilities.
He also singled out Jack Rodwell, who consistently failed to deliver at the highest level during his time in England, as another potential star of the future. The former Everton midfielder ended up winning a grand total of three caps for the Three Lions and is currently plying his trade in Australia following spells at Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United.
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Ferdinand later relayed his view that Adnan Januzaj was destined for stardom while the Belgian winger was breaking through at United, only for him to go down as another wasted talent after failing to make the most of his potential.
“He is a wonderfully talented kid, who I think is a Man United player,” said Ferdinand in an interview with The Guardian shortly after leaving the Red Devils in 2014. “Adnan Januzaj needs freedom. He can stand anybody in the world up and beat them.”
It remains to be seen whether Garnacho will be the next one to bite the dust after receiving Ferdinand’s seal of approval on Wednesday night. However, the winger’s recent performances in a United shirt have suggested that he might just break the mould if he continues to develop at his current rate.
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