Alejandro Garnacho has paid a surprise visit to a seven-year-old Manchester United fan who has undergone treatment for cancer.

United arranged for the Argentine star to meet Anderson Pollard, who was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in May 2023, at their Carrington training ground.

Garnacho, who recently became a father to a baby boy with partner Eva Garcia, was visibly emotional as he chatted to the boy.

The family had come up to Carrington, with his family, from Redditch, Worcestershire, telling the youngster MUTV wanted to speak to him about his experience watching the 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford earlier this month.

But, little did he know it, Anderson was about to meet a player who he has described as his hero. 

Alejandro Garnacho met the young fan, 7, during his surprise visit to United’s training ground

Anderson Pollard was diagnosed with cancer last year and has undergone chemotherapy

Garnacho also met the young supporter’s family and took questions from Anderson

Garnacho described Anderson as ‘heroic’ and ‘brave’ and presented him with a little ‘bravery award’ during their time together. He was accompanied by dad Sam and mum Debbie Bath.

Anderson had been undergoing chemotheraphy after being diagnosed eight months ago. Doctors had previously thought he had constipation after complaining of infrequent and uncomfortable bowel movements.

Following a series of tests, it was found Anderson actually had numerous cancerous tumours in his stomach.

‘When we were told it was cancer, we were just in total shock,’ Sam Pollard, his father, said. 

‘You see it in films and you just don’t think it will happen to you. It was just devastating. We had no idea what it meant and we just feared the worst.

‘At a routine appointment at an allergy clinic, he was initially diagnosed with constipation. When he continued to deteriorate we called 111 and then took Anderson to the GPs the next morning, who sent him directly to hospital.’

‘Anderson had started to feel poorly around his seventh birthday. While initially he bounced back to normal, he quickly fell ill again and really wasn’t himself.’

Anderson described Garnacho as his ‘hero’ and says the Argentine is his favourite player

He was diagnosed in May and spent four months in hospital, undergoing six rounds of chemo

Anderson spent four months in hospital and underwent six intense rounds of chemotherapy.  

When children are under treatment for aggressive forms of cancer, they have their ’emergency question’ – is a question parents and doctors can ask the child, and their answer is a sign of cognitive responsiveness, when there’s not much else and the disease is at its worst.

Anderson’s emergency question was: Who has played with Ronaldo & Messi? His answer, ‘Garnacho’ was used a lot last year.

But he has now recovered and appeared in good spirits when he met Garnacho at Carrington.

The United star is set to feature when Erik ten Hag’s men travel to face Wolves at Molineux on Thursday.