Alejandro Garnacho is aiming to rejuvenate his career at Chelsea after leaving Manchester United. The 21-year-old’s exit from Old Trafford became unavoidable when the winger expressed his dissatisfaction with being benched during May’s Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
Ruben Amorim responded negatively to this position, leading Garnacho to train separately from United’s first-team squad during pre-season after he indicated his desire to leave. Chelsea has completed the expected signing of the Argentina international for £40 million, while the Red Devils have secured a 10 percent sell-on clause.
Garnacho also faced a tumultuous relationship with Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag, having previously supported a critical social media post about the Dutch manager. Although there is little doubt about his ability, there are ongoing concerns regarding his temperament, which Enzo Maresca will be keen to manage.
Here is a summary of the comments made by managers, colleagues, and experts regarding the unpredictable Argentine….
Ruben Amorim’s public put-down
Amorim had become increasingly frustrated with Garnacho, to the extent that he allegedly communicated his forthcoming departure in front of his teammates.
Before the last league match of the season – prior to Garnacho’s grievances regarding being sidelined for the Europa League final – his manager reportedly remarked during a training session: “You better hope you have a good agent this summer.”
This information comes from The Athletic. At that point, it was evident that Garnacho’s future at United was uncertain, as he was seeking a way out of Old Trafford.
The relationship between the manager and the player further deteriorated when Garnacho spoke to reporters after the disheartening loss to Spurs in Bilbao, stating: “Our season was terrible. We didn’t win against anyone in the league.
“We were lacking in many areas. When you fail to score goals, you always require more. Up until we reached the final, I participated in every round. Yet today, I only played for 20 minutes… I am uncertain. I will attempt to enjoy the summer and see what unfolds next.”
Criticised by Bruno Fernandes
United captain Bruno Fernandes previously offered a damning assessment of Garnacho’s mentality after he netted the decisive strike in a Europa League clash against Real Sociedad in 2022.
Fernandes told BT Sport: “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.”
Jamie Carragher off-field criticism
Jamie Carragher has criticised Garnacho, not for his transfer or on-pitch performances, but for his use of a mobile phone during a game.
After finalising his move to Stamford Bridge, Garnacho was seen in the stands during the home match against Fulham, where he was caught scrolling on his phone just eight minutes into the match.
Carragher voiced his annoyance: “You know what I didn’t like? Did you see the game [against Fulham], when they go to the people in the stands and they are on their phones with the game going on?
“I can’t stand it. And it’s not just him by the way, but I can’t stand it. So it’s a miss for that. For sitting on his phone during an important game for Chelsea.”
‘Disrespectful’ claim
Former United defender Paul Parker did not hold back in his criticism of Garnacho following his Chelsea transfer, labelling his behaviour as “disrespectful.”
The former England full-back told MyBettingSites: “His conduct on and off the pitch was disrespectful.
“All he wanted to do was score a goal or have a near miss so he could act like Ronaldo. Now he’s gone to a club where there’s a lot more ego. He will alienate himself or it’ll be a battle there.
“United fans backed him when he was going through things both on and off the field. His brother was tweeting things and they backed him and he said nothing. He’s stuck two fingers up at the club that nursed him.”
Garnacho is set to challenge public opinion and silence his critics regarding his off-pitch behaviour as he begins a new chapter at Stamford Bridge.
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