Manchester United have been in impressive form lately, winning six of their last seven games in all competitions. Three young players have been instrumental in this resurgence, and they could go on to become legends at Old Trafford.
Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are the names that have excited the United fans in recent months. They have shown their talent, potential and passion for the club, and they have formed a strong bond on and off the pitch.
Hojlund, 21, is the oldest and most experienced of the trio. The Danish striker joined United from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, for a fee of £64 million1. He has scored 17 goals in 30 appearances for the club, including crucial strikes against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City2. He has also impressed with his work rate, movement and link-up play, forming a lethal partnership with Marcus Rashford.
Garnacho, 19, is the second youngest and most versatile of the trio. The Spanish winger joined United from Atletico Madrid in October 2020, for a fee of £420,0003. He has scored 10 goals in 44 appearances for the club, mostly from the bench4. He has also shown his ability to play on either flank, or as a second striker. He has a flair for dribbling, crossing and finishing, and he idolises Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mainoo, 18, is the youngest and most surprising of the trio. The English midfielder graduated from United’s academy, and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 20235. He has scored four goals in 11 appearances for the club, three of them dramatic late winners against Newport County, Wolves and Everton6. He has also displayed his maturity, composure and vision, playing as a box-to-box midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker.
The trio have been instrumental in United’s recent resurgence, helping the team win six of their last seven games in all competitions. They have also demonstrated their chemistry and friendship, celebrating their goals together and supporting each other on social media.
Their performances have not gone unnoticed by the fans, who have given them nicknames and chants. Hojlund is known as “The Dane”, Garnacho as “The Spaniard” and Mainoo as “The Kid”. Together, they are called “The Three Musketeers” or “The New Class of 92”.
The trio have also earned the praise and trust of their manager, who has given them more opportunities and responsibilities. Ten Hag has hailed them as “the future of Manchester United” and has urged them to keep working hard and improving7.
The trio have shown their quality and character in the last two games against Wolves and West Ham, scoring five goals between them and securing two vital wins. Against Wolves, Hojlund scored a brace and Mainoo scored a stunning 97th-minute winner, after Wolves had equalised in stoppage time. Against West Ham, Garnacho scored twice and Hojlund scored once, as United came from behind to win 3-0.
The trio have a long way to go before they can match the achievements of United’s legends, such as Ronaldo, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. They will face challenges, setbacks and competition along the way. But they have the talent, the potential and the passion to succeed. And if they stay healthy and stick together, they could become legends themselves.