Something unusual happened at Manchester United press conference with Alejandro Garnacho

It was three years ago last week that the Garnachos were reduced to tears in the Old Trafford directors' box. Alejandro, wearing the number 47, crossed the white line for his Manchester United debut against Chelsea.

Ralf Rangnick recognised Garnacho's qualities as a 17-year-old who had inspired the academy to the FA Youth Cup final. Back at Old Trafford two weeks after Garnacho's senior bow, he decided the final against Nottingham Forest with two goals.

United have been naturally reluctant to make Garnacho available to the media. Four-and-a-half years after he touched down in Manchester with the Covid-19 pandemic impinging on the public's freedom, Garnacho attended his first press engagement at Carrington on Wednesday.

Usually, there are a handful of questions for the player as the focus is on the coach. It was different with Garnacho. He was the academy poster boy of not just Erik ten Hag's reign but United's future.

That was in doubt in January. Napoli had a £40million offer knocked back. Chelsea have stockpiled almost enough youngsters to fill Stamford Bridge but also expressed interest.

Garnacho was developed as a winger by Atletico Madrid and United only to now be coached by a man wedded to a 3-4-2-1 system. He admitted his first weeks under Ruben Amorim were "difficult".

Amorim omitted Garnacho and Marcus Rashford from the Manchester derby squad on account of their attitude in mid-December. Rashford has not played for United and may never do so again. Garnacho has played in every match since.

He has started in 13 successive matches and it will be a 14th against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening. Amorim has spoken about him in such glowing terms he was not actually asked about Garnacho, sat to his right, at the