Alejandro Garnacho received an emergency call from the Argentina boss after making his Chelsea debut.
The 21-year-old winger came off the bench for the Blues against Brentford on Saturday.
He looked lively in attack and played a role in Moises Caicedo’s goal, but was at fault defensively when Fabio Carvalho ghosted in at the back post to snatch a late equaliser for the Bees.
After falling out with Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, Garnacho will now be hoping to prove himself for club and country ahead of next summer’s World Cup. Last weekend, he spoke privately with the Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni and asked: “Is there room for me?”
Scaloni replied: “Yes, but keep in mind you’re starting from behind. You’ll have to prove a lot to return to the National Team.”
Garnacho has been in and out of the Argentina set-up in recent years.
He was first called up to the senior squad in March 2022 for friendlies, but did not make an appearance in either game.
A year later, he returned to the squad, but had to withdraw with an ankle injury. His senior debut eventually came in June 2023 when he came off the bench in a friendly against Australia.
He then made Argentina’s 26-man squad for their victorious Copa America campaign in 2024., But his involvement was limited, only featuring in the final group-stage match.
Garnacho’s last international appearance came in November 2024, when he came off the bench in a World Cup qualifier defeat to Paraguay.
His club career has faced challenges over the past year.
Following his exclusion by Amorim for the Manchester derby in December 2024, it seemed that the two had reconciled. Garnacho featured regularly during the latter half of the season, aiding United’s UEFA Europa League campaign.
However, after receiving only 19 minutes as a substitute in the final against Tottenham Hotspur, he expressed his dissatisfaction, which ultimately concluded his tenure at United.
Despite facing criticism regarding his demeanor, Garnacho’s skill is indisputable. He has made 144 appearances for Manchester United, and at a price of £40 million, Chelsea is likely to feel they have secured a good deal.
He may have the chance to make his Champions League debut for the Blues on Wednesday night when they visit Bayern Munich.
Additionally, he will have the opportunity to showcase his abilities to Amorim on Saturday evening when they compete against Manchester United.
Alongside Chelsea, Garnacho is also focused on the upcoming World Cup next summer, which will mark Argentina’s final tournament featuring the iconic Lionel Messi.
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