Since leaving Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho has not yet found his stride at Stamford Bridge, but the Argentinian still firmly believes his move down South was the right choice.
Ruben Amorim and Alejandro Garnacho had a tumultuous relationship until the Argentinian departed the club in the summer. Having been a favourite under Erik ten Hag, Garnacho found himself sidelined due to a change in system and formation under Amorim.
The 21-year-old joined Manchester United’s academy in 2020 and broke into the first team during the 22/23 season, making his debut in the Europa League. Since then, Garnacho has been a player who divided the fanbase.
On one hand, he possessed bundles of flair and creativity, but the downside to this was his obvious greed on the ball, which was something that made Amad a more favourable choice.
Amorim preferred players who were willing to adapt to his system, rather than play the maverick role in a side, trying to take all the individual glory. This saw him feature less and less until the feud became public and the relationship between the two became irreparable.
The young winger’s move to London was still not as simple as it sounds; the deal was completed in late August and meant Garnach had no pre-season, which he has gone on record to voice his frustration. However, United was able to receive a fee worth £40 million, and many fans were relieved the controversial player was off the books.
Garnacho claims he had to make a ‘step forward’ by leaving United
There is no doubt that under Ten Hag, Garnacho played a significant role and was exciting to watch. His iconic bicycle kick against Everton perfectly sums up what the young winger is capable of on his day. Sadly, this raw talent has been overshadowed by his off-pitch antics and petulant attitude.
His move to Chelsea should have been the end of this, but on Monday’s press conference before Chelsea’s Champions League fixture, Garnacho explained: “Sometimes in life, you have to change things to, maybe, take a step forward or to improve as a player,
“Yeah, I think it was the right moment, and also the right club. So, it was an easy decision.”
The Argentinian international doubled down on his actions, claiming he had ‘No’ regrets about the manner in which he departed Old Trafford.
This attitude is exactly what United fans disliked about Garnacho towards the end of his career as a Red Devil, and they will be relieved to see he hasn’t changed even after moving away from the club.
Although he still has time, it looks pretty likely that Garnacho will not start as many games as he may have thought, and it could be another messy ending at a club for Chelsea.
Garnacho says Fernandez played a ‘big part’ in his decision
Although he was destined for a move away from Old Trafford, the club that Garnacho would move to was still up in the air leading up to the end of the window.
However, during Monday’s press conference, the winger admitted that his international teammate Enzo Fernandes played an important role in convincing him to join the Blues.
“I spoke with him during the summer; he helped me a lot. I know him, of course, from the national team. He was a big part of the deal because he pushed (me) also, and yeah, I’m happy to work with him because we’re really close.”
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Some United fans will thank Fernandez for pushing the deal, as it was a move that mutually benefited both clubs. Looking forward, United should be able to use some of the funds made available after this move was completed in the January window.
Replacing an outcast winger with a solid central midfielder could be a smart move and further implement a no-tolerance culture for players who think they are bigger than the club.
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