Alejandro Garnacho's statistics this term could yet surpass those registered by Cristiano Ronaldo during his debut season at Manchester United.
The young Argentine, who began to break through towards the end of last season, has been a major part of Erik ten Hag's squad this term. He's come up with big moments - notching a late winner at Fulham back in November and also scoring in the recent FA Cup win over West Ham.
Ronaldo was signed by United as a teenager back in 2003, moving from Sporting Lisbon and making his debut on the opening day of the season. The Portuguese superstar was incredibly raw but showed the type of talent that would eventually see him become the world's best.
Ronaldo would scored six times and register eight assists as he made 40 appearances for the Red Devils, who would claim the FA Cup that year, with the Portuguese star scoring in the final. Thus far, with several months of the season still to go, Garnacho has scored four times and registered five assists in 27 games.
Both players, at their tender ages, were by no means guaranteed starters and had to deal with substitute cameos alongside starting berths. Garnacho is firmly among Erik ten Hag's attacking options and is seeing his stock grow at a rapid rate.
Team-mate Fred, who also played with Ronaldo during his unsuccessful second-stint in Manchester, has backed the young United star to be among the elite. The Brazilian said of Garnacho: "He's a young player. He will be one of the best players in the world, for sure. Today, he scored and played well and he needs to keep going."
Ten Hag hailed Garnacho after introducing him off the bench in the win over West Ham. "I see today another step," said the Dutchman. "I said to him before the game, 'it's time. You have an impact when you come on but now you have to have an impact as a starter'. And I think he is capable of it, so that is the next step he has to make.
"It is a great skill when you're fearless, when you're brave. I don't think that it's a skill that is so specific, there are not so many players in world football who can take players on, who can just out-dribble them and that skill he has.
"But he has more skills than only that, for example, finishing. But also I see he has a big engine, he is fast, he has speed, he can keep running for 90 minutes, for 120 minutes, it doesn't matter how long, he can do it."
