- Ex-Manchester United star ready for sale
- Alejandro Garnacho has not impressed at Chelsea
- Could be sold this summer
Chelsea are already thought to be prepared to offload Alejandro Garnacho, with the Argentine falling short of expectations in a blue shirt thus far.
Manchester United supporters have seized on the information, revelling in the downturn, with the former United winger now villainised by the Old Trafford faithful for the manner of his exit.
An academy graduate, Garnacho once commanded genuine affection among the fanbase—his ceiling appeared immense, and his rise carried the added resonance of being one of their own.
Garnacho struck the opener in the 2024 FA Cup final, and in that moment, his stock reached its zenith. But the 2024/25 campaign quickly veered off course.
After lashing out at Ruben Amorim following the UEFA Europa League final defeat, Garnacho found himself exiled to the ‘bomb squad’ before the Argentine forced a move to rivals Chelsea.
He stirred up even more controversy when he posted a photo of himself on Instagram wearing an Aston Villa shirt bearing ‘Rashford 9’ on the back.
Now, just as it did at United, patience at Chelsea appears to be wearing thin. Both the board and the supporters have begun to lose faith, and the club seem increasingly inclined to cut their losses.
Here We Go Again
According to Samuel Luckhurst of SunSport, Chelsea are now open to selling Garnacho just months after he arrived from United for £40m. Blues boss Liam Rosenior is said to have reservations over the Argentine having only handed him four Premier League starts since early January.
When asked about Garnacho last month, Rosenior said: “He’s got huge ability and potential. For any young player, the biggest thing to be challenged on is consistency. But he’s shown really good signs. Not just in training, but in meetings, that he’s on a really good track.”
Yet despite that backing, Garnacho has failed to rediscover the level he once hinted at.
Since arriving at Chelsea last August, he has struggled for impact, returning eight goals and four assists in 38 appearances, including just one in the Premier League.
Respectable at first glance, but the numbers begin to fade under closer inspection. Half of those goals came against lower-tier opposition, stripping away much of their weight.
Break it down further and it looks thinner still: four in the EFL Cup, leaving just one apiece in the league and UEFA Champions League, and two in the FA Cup. Simply not good enough for a player who commanded a £40m fee.
Garnacho Situation is Sad
Garnacho finally lifted the lid on his Old Trafford exit and was more reserved and mature than seen throughout the toxic latter stages of his spell with the Reds. He said:
“I remember that, in the last six months, I was not playing like before at Manchester United. I started to be on the bench. It’s not such 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 was also on me. I started to do some bad things. But it was just a moment in life and sometimes you have to make decisions. I am really proud to be [at Chelsea] and still in the Premier League at a club like this.“
“About United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, anyone at the club or my team-mates. It was just a moment that changed and life continues. I have no regrets.”
Call it what you want. A player who once loved the club, now searching for forgiveness. He added:
“I loved that club. They gave me the confidence from the start. From Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they bring me to the first team. So it was like four or five years, and amazing love from everyone.
Whilst countless Manchester United supporters will revel in the downfall of their former winger, it feels far more like a cause for sadness than scorn. Regardless of how you feel about the Argentine, there is no denying that, at one point, he made you feel something.
That is what the best footballers do. His overhead kick against Everton, his FA Cup final goal, his infatuation with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of course, what he did towards the end of his tenure borders on unforgivable. But there was a period where he stood among the finest players at the club—and for a time, he felt inevitable.
