Man Utd manager Ten Hag told he already has the next Ronaldo

FT Desk

• 13 Nov 2022 02:35 CST
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo looked increasingly likely to leave Manchester United in January, but the top brass at Old Trafford don't need to go shopping to replace the Portuguese superstar.

That's according to Tim Sherwood, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa manager who won the Premier League as a midfielder with Blackburn Rovers in 1995.

"I think he looks direct. Listen, he's got a long way to go but he's the closest thing I've seen to Ronaldo," he told Sky Sports after United's 4-2 win over Villa in the Carabao Cup, in which Garnacho assisted two goals.

READ: Garnacho sending three players to Man Utd exit

"When [Ronaldo] first came, I know he was a show pony a little bit, a little bit tricky, but this kid is direct. He gets at the full-back, you do not want to play against him, I'm telling you.

"Even if you drop off him you're not playing it safe, he's getting right to the heart of you, he's going past you, he can go both ways. Chipping in with goals, he's got a lot of confidence in his game now.

"He looks like the real deal, but we've got to be slow with him. Obviously when Ronaldo was coming through we had the best in the business in Sir Alex Ferguson."

Ferguson is still a director at Old Trafford, but it is now up to Erik ten Hag to manager Garnacho's progress.

READ: Ronaldo 'an unwanted distraction' at Man Utd says Rooney

Value for money

United paid Ajax €100 million for Ajax this summer, and Borussia Dortmund €85m for Jadon Sancho the year before, but both have been outshone by Garnacho recently, the 18-year-old enjoying three goal-involvements across his last three games.

United paid Atletico Madrid just €500,000 for Garnacho's signature in October 2020. He was on Argentina's long-list for the upcoming World Cup but ultimately never made the cut.

It is a decision which could come back to bite Argentina - Garnacho was born in Madrid and could yet elect to represent Spain.