Alejandro Garnacho, a Manchester United outcast, reportedly received a severe 10-word warning from Ruben Amorim before to the summer transfer window.
Finally, last week, the 21-year-old Argentine signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea after the two teams agreed to a £40 million deal.
More than a month prior, Garnacho had stated that he “only wanted Chelsea,” but the deal continued to drag on until the final week of the transfer window due to difficulties during negotiations. It is thought that Stamford Bridge club officials made several player offers to the Red Devils in possible trades in return for the winger, all of whom were turned down by United authorities.
Garnacho fondly remembered his time at Old Trafford upon his departure, writing: ‘After an unforgettable five years, this special chapter in my life now comes to a close.
‘We have created moments that will stay with me forever, and I’m very grateful for this.’
Yet the final few months of Garnacho’s Man United career were far from special.
As early as December following the coach’s appointment, when Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were kept out of the squad for the Manchester derby, tensions were already building between Ruben Amorim and the academy product.
Despite making 58 appearances in all competitions, the 21-year-old was able to regain his manager’s trust as the season went on. However, as the disastrous year came to an end, his relationship with Amorim finally reached a breaking point.
In a post-match interview that would ultimately determine his fate at Old Trafford, Garnacho expressed his annoyance to media after being benched for United’s Europa League final matchup against Tottenham Hotspur.
He sulked, “I played every round supporting the team until the final, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” adding, “The final will influence my decision.”
Days after his remarks infuriated Amorim, he publicly told the winger, “You better hope you have a good agent this summer,” in front of his teammates, according to The Athletic.
As a result, Garnacho was accepted into the Carrington “bomb squad,” which also included Tyrell Malacia, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony. Under Amorim, these players were all known to have no future at the club.
Now that the transfer window is over and none of the exiles have played a single minute for United, four out of the five have in fact finalized their departures from Manchester.
Jadon Sancho moved along the M6 to Aston Villa, Garnacho moved to Chelsea, Antony returned to Real Betis on Deadline Day, and Marcus Rashford received his “dream” move to Barcelona. The last remaining outcast is Malacia.
In the meanwhile, United spent more than £200 million on new players to join Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, including Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and more recently, Senne Lammens.
After weeks of talks and a temporary change of heart by United officials, who made a last-minute move for Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, the Belgian goalkeeper finalized his transfer on Monday.
Lammens said: ‘I am extremely proud to be joining Manchester United, it is a real dream come true. The past few years have been an amazing journey, it’s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special.
‘You can feel the positive atmosphere that is being created here, and I know that I can make a real impact at the club in the coming years.
‘I cannot wait to get to know my team-mates and begin working with Ruben and the coaching staff.
‘This is the perfect place to keep developing, grow together with this exciting team and achieve my career objectives.’
United, who are now ranked ninth in the Premier League standings, will play the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium following the international break.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is the newest sparkling new item to enter the blue half of Manchester, and both teams might have a new ‘keeper on display.
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