FORMER Manchester United full-back Paul Parker has berated Alejandro Garnacho, claiming he needs to “work harder” if he wants to succeed at the top level.
The 20-year-old has endured a difficult season with United, scoring just nine goals across all competitions.
Having also clashed with head coach Ruben Amorim on at least two occasions, he is now at risk of being sold when the transfer window opens.
The winger's attitude has come into question several times this season, with the latest concerns expressed after he stormed down the Old Trafford tunnel mid-match after being substituted last month.
Club legend Paul Scholes slammed him for “sulking” in the wake of the incident.
And now ex-full-back Parker has given his brutal verdict on the youngster.
Speaking to SpilXperten, he said: “We can't keep using the excuse that Garnacho is young. He is not young anymore, at least not in football.
“He turns 21 in the summer and before he knows he will be 30. He needs to understand that and start performing.
“The best players, like Ryan Giggs, were not considered young when he was 21.
“Garnacho might be immature but he is not young anymore, and it is a massive disappointment that he is not performing at all.
Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus
in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford
“He is not playing like an adult and he is certainly not acting like an adult, and he has to have a good look in the mirror, to tell himself that he needs to stop thinking about being the next [Cristiano] Ronaldo.
“He will never be that, so he has to accept the fact that he needs to work hard to get a decent career.”
Parker then continued: “I liked him when he came through and he had that Argentinian fire in his belly, which he has lost completely. He has let himself and his family down. He has let his club down, because he is not taking advantage of the talent he was supposed to have.
“I am not seeing anything from him. The most important thing for him now is to understand what he is good at and what he is bad at.
“He can't take on people, he is not quick enough and he doesn't want to work hard. So, what is he actually good at? He needs to figure that out and show it, rather than just wanting to be the next Ronaldo.
“Because at the moment, to me, he just seems like a Ronaldo fanboy, who would rather make a few highlights to post them on social media rather than winning football matches and make this club great again.”
Garnacho was left out of the Argentina squad for the international break.
Instead, manager Lionel Scaloni called up Bologna winger Benjamin Dominguez.
He explained: “We decided to call up Benjamin Dominguez over Garnacho to be able to see him, he brings something we didn't have.
“He is a guy who is doing well, he can play as a winger on the right or left, he easily gets past defenders.”
As a result of his omission, Garnacho enjoyed a week away from the pitch but returned to Carrington on Monday.
Man Utd ratings vs Leicester
MANCHESTER UNITED leapfrogged Tottenham into 13th in the Premier League by beating Leicester.
Rasmus Hojlund was left to run in behind and shoot low into the bottom corner from an angle to open the scoring on 28 minutes.
The Danish striker had not found the net since December 12 – a run of 21 matches.
Alejandro Garnacho saw a goal chalked off for offside but there was no taking his snap-shot finish off him on 67 minutes.
And skipper Bruno Fernandes rounded off the comfortable 3-0 win in style in the closing stages.
