The numbers achieved by Alejandro Garnacho in his first two seasons at Man United surprisingly resemble those of Cristiano Ronaldo.

One of the driving inspirations for Alejandro Garnacho to become a professional player is Cristiano Ronaldo. “I always see Ronaldo as my role model. I have never seen a player like him in my life. I want to be like him,” said the young Manchester United player.

In fact, Garnacho’s statistics at Old Trafford closely mirror Ronaldo’s. When comparing the stats of both players in their first two seasons at Man United, their goal-scoring and assist records are nearly identical.

“I don’t know if it’s real or if I’m dreaming,” Garnacho posted on Instagram after playing alongside Ronaldo in the match against Tiraspol in 2022.

In his first campaign with Man United, CR7 scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists, accomplishing this in 40 matches. On the other hand, Garnacho scored 5 goals and made 4 assists in his first 34 matches at Old Trafford. This means that the young Argentine forward was only one goal behind his idol and achieved it in six fewer matches.

In the current season, Garnacho’s second campaign with Man United, his numbers have approached Ronaldo’s. The Portuguese forward scored 9 goals and provided 7 assists in his second year, while Garnacho currently has 9 goals and 4 assists. Notably, Ronaldo achieved those figures in 50 matches, whereas Garnacho achieved them in just 40 matches.

Garnacho’s style of play is reminiscent of Ronaldo in his early years at the “Red Devils.” Furthermore, the Man United number 17 consistently shows his admiration for Ronaldo through his goal celebrations.

The Argentine player imitates Ronaldo’s “siuuu” celebration, which has become Ronaldo’s trademark, after scoring against Everton. Moreover, in a bowling game, Garnacho wrote “Cristiano” instead of his own name on the scoreboard.

“I want to be like Ronaldo,” said the Argentine player. That dream appears to have become a reality, at least in his first two seasons as a “Red Devil.”

Garnacho’s numbers are a replica of Ronaldo’s, and to some extent, the two share a similar attitude and personality on the field. The Argentine player now has the opportunity to surpass his idol in the remaining part of the season. After Garnacho scored a spectacular goal against Everton in the Premier League, Bruno Fernandes commented, “Maybe Garnacho has watched too many clips of Cristiano. We all know he is a big fan of Ronaldo. There is still a long way to go for him to be like Cristiano, but he is progressing step by step. He wants to become something special in the world of football, and I think he has the ability to do so.”

This season, amidst Man United’s decline in form, Garnacho has emerged as one of the key stars of the team. With continuous trust and opportunities from Ten Hag, the forward has matured significantly.

“You have to take on a lot of responsibility, and you have to know that as well as learn how to do it. It’s a process. Garnacho is moving in the right direction, progressing positively. And at the same time, he knows what needs to be done and why it is necessary,” Ten Hag commented on Garnacho after the 4-3 victory against Liverpool in the FA Cup.