- Why Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United
- Chelsea star reflects on time at Old Trafford
- Argentine winger takes some blame for exit
Alejandro Garnacho has finally revealed his reasons for leaving Manchester United. The Argentine takes full responsibility for his decision, confirming the departure did not go as planned.
Last summer, the 21-year-old left Old Trafford for £40 million to Chelsea due to a breakdown in his relationship with the club. Mail Sport reported in June that the winger, along with four others, missed training while looking for clubs.
Later, it was confirmed that there was a rift with the former manager, Ruben Amorim. This made Garnacho leave the club. But before leaving United, he posted a picture of himself wearing Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa shirt.
Fans did not receive this well, as the Argentine’s petulance was perceived as betraying the club that helped him break out. He rose through the youth ranks at Carrington before becoming a Premier League winger.
A Bitter End For Alejandro
The fallout with Amorim defined the latter stages of Garnacho’s spell with the Red Devils. His former coach’s decision to bring him on late in the 1–0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur added more fuel to the fire.
After which his brother Roberto posted a message on social media pointing a finger at the head coach for throwing Garnacho ‘under the bus’. When interviewed by the Premier League, the Chelsea star said:
“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.
He added:
“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.”
The media asked the Argentine whether his Old Trafford exit ‘hurt’ him:
“They (Man United) gave me the confidence from the start, from Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they bring me to the first team.”
He added:
“Yeah, maybe yes, because I loved that club, you know? “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 Manchester United.”
Garnacho made 144 appearances during his time at United, registering 26 goals and 22 assists. He was part of the Red Devils side that won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, including scoring in the latter’s final in a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Life after Old Trafford
Moving to London has not been smooth sailing for Garnacho as well. Despite arriving at Chelsea with high expectations, he has struggled to find form under Liam Rosenior.
Garnacho has played 37 games in all competitions, scoring eight goals. The Blues’ Champions League exit and poor run in the Premier League have compounded the youngster’s frustrations.
With limited minutes, the winger is struggling to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. A player once seen as the future of the United attack is just a shadow of his former self. The London side has now started to raise questions about the player’s investment. And with the contract running until 2032, only time will tell if the decision was right.
