Alejandro Garnacho will face his former club Manchester United as they visit Stamford Bridge for a Saturday night showdown against Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho is struggling with new issues at Chelsea(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Alejandro Garnacho may now be regretting his £40million switch from Manchester United as Chelsea are understood to be open to selling in the summer. The Argentinian winger joined the Blues last summer after five years building through the youth ranks and senior team at Old Trafford.
Garnacho’s two clubs will face off against one another at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night. While he is plying his trade for the Blues this season, the 21-year-old recently admitted he holds some regrets on his Manchester exit.
The Argentine joined United’s academy from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and made his senior debut for United in April 2022. He actually came on against his current club as a 91st-minute substitution for Anthony Elanga – who is also no longer a United player.
Across 144 appearances Garnacho scored 26 goals, assisted 22 times and developed a cult following among United fans for his huge potential at Old Trafford. However, after a public fallout with former manager Ruben Amorim, the youngster saw his minutes dwindle at the club before eventually leaving altogether.
FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
READ MORE: Joining Chelsea over Man Utd is my biggest regret – my wife didn’t want to go to ManchesterREAD MORE: Cole Palmer confirms Man Utd transfer stance after talks with Chelsea’s owners
After spending almost one season in west London, Garnacho has admitted his mind has changed over his “hurtful” Manchester departure. The 21-year-old told Premier League Productions that he holds some remorse over how his United exit went down.
He said: “Maybe yes, because I loved that club. They gave me the confidence from the start, from Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they brought me to the first team, so it was like four or five years, and amazing love from everyone, from the fans, the stadium, everything was really good.
“It’s just sometimes you have to change for the good of your life or the next steps. I only have good memories of Man United. I remember in the last six months I was just not playing like before at Manchester United. I started to be on the bench, it’s not a bad thing, I was only 20 years old, but in my mind, it was like I had to play every game.
“In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things. But yes, it was just this moment in life, and sometimes you have to make decisions, and I am really proud to be here and still in the Premier League at a club like this.
“Everyone knows the team we have and the things we can do. I am proud to be here, but with United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, no one in the club or my teammates. It’s just a moment in life that changes, and life continues. I have no regrets.”
Garnacho is likely reflecting over his words following the Europa League final, where he made a clear statement that he was unhappy with recent minutes on the pitch. Reflecting on the defeat to Tottenham, he said: “Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know.
“The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards.”
Garnacho’s attitude was noticed by teammates, including United captain Bruno Fernandes. Discussing the youngster after he scored the winner against Real Sociedad in November 2022, the Portuguese midfielder was clear about what he wanted from the winger.
Fernandes said: “He was good but he knows we expect a lot from him. He’s still really young, doing really well. At the beginning of the season, he was not at his best.
“On the [pre-season] tour he did not have the best attitude. That’s why he didn’t get his chance until now. He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, he’s having the correct attitude.”
It looks like this attitude could be coming back to haunt Garnacho as his new club are not happy with his output. The 21-year-old has scored eight goals and assisted four times in 38 appearances so far this season and is yet to reach the heights that the Blues may expect from him.
It has been reported that Chelsea could be willing to sanction an exit with Liam Rosenior not convinced about Garnacho’s place in the side. The winger has six years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge but has already been linked with a move to Boca Juniors.
Garnacho has also recently deleted every reference about his current club from his TikTok page, boosting speculation about an impending exit. Rosenior has been complimentary of the Argentine but admits his tactics don’t fit the winger.
He said: “Garna is a top player. We have changed a little bit tactically since I came in. I have wanted to dominate midfield areas, which has meant at times I have only played with one winger.
“But Garna is an outstanding player. What I have really liked in this period is his reaction to not starting. He has been training very, very well. He has shown real positivity.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
