Garnacho set for 1,000 per cent pay rise at Man Utd

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 19 Dec 2022 15:07 GMT
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo has been stealing the headlines with his scathing Piers Morgan interview, but on the field Alejandro Garnacho has been hoovering up the goals and assists in recent weeks.

Garnacho was arguably Man Utd's best player on the final stretch before the break in play for the winter World Cup, with two goals and two assists across his last five games in all competitions.

The Madrid-born Argentine was perhaps unfortunate that his winner in the 2-1 victory at Fulham last Sunday was followed so quickly by Ronaldo's explosive interview, but it could be seen as an advantage for the club keeping Garnacho relatively under the radar.

READ: From Messi to retirement: Ronaldo-Piers Morgan interview part two IN FULL

The 18-year-old's current contract at Old Trafford expires in June, and there is now a scramble on to get him to extend after his meteoric rise under Erik ten Hag.

"The Argentinian forward… currently earns £5,000 [€5,745]-a-week at Old Trafford," report the Daily Star. "But that salary will rocket to a whopping £50,000 [€57,457] as the club reward him for his explosive emergence on the first-team scene under Ten Hag.

Man Utd 'optimistic'

"Negotiations are well underway with Garnacho's representatives and the United hierarchy are optimistic they will be successfully completed before the end of the year."

READ: Garnacho sending three players to Man Utd exit

United enjoyed another stroke of luck in that Garnacho missed out on Argentina's final squad for the World Cup despite being called up by Lionel Scaloni for their final two qualifiers in March.

A successful showing in Qatar would have driven up interest in Garnacho - and potentially his asking price by up to 300 per cent according to a recent report by Saxo Bank - and United could benefit from the young winger being less in the shop window.

Garnacho - who arrived for just €500,000 from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 - could still elect to play for Spain, as he didn't get off the bench for Argentina in those aforementioned World Cup qualifiers, remaining uncapped at senior level.