’s closest watchers had seen it before. The second time was at this season, already a favourite for the goal of the season. Yet two years earlier, he did what his coaches say was identical in an under-17s cup game. film every minute of every training session and every game. After his incredible bicycle kick at Goodison Park in late November, the staff came into the training ground the next day, excited. “He scored that goal at Wigan,” they said to each other and demanded to see it again.
That was great, but Garnacho couldn’t understand any of them Marc Jurado and Alvaro Fernandez, two other Spanish youngsters who joined at the same time, offered great support. They learned and laughed together as they found their way in a new country, turning their noses up at English food, wondering why English people eat and go to bed so early. His family, who moved to be with him, went to games, sitting in the away end. Yet Garnacho’s journey at United was far from straightforward.