Why Parting with Alejandro Garnacho May Pose Challenges for Manchester United

One of the notable outcomes of Manchester United’s “calamitous season” was the realisation that Alejandro Garnacho had found himself at odds with Ruben Amorim, much like Marcus Rashford had previously experienced.

The Portuguese manager possesses a distinct vision of how he expects his wingers to perform on the pitch, and it appears that both the English attacker and the Argentinian were unable to meet the high standards Amorim enforces.

Garnacho’s public criticism of his manager certainly did not do him any favours, and at 20, he must have been acutely aware of the potential consequences of his comments.

Amorim’s reaction — suggesting the player look for a new club in front of his teammates at United — has been widely reported, although a £70 million price tag might deter interested suitors.

Since making his debut for the United first-team three seasons ago, Garnacho has netted 23 goals and record 15 assists across 115 appearances, 73 of which were starts.

While a goal-to-game ratio of roughly one in five isn’t terrible, there is certainly room for improvement.

One aspect where the young talent has not received ample recognition is his passing accuracy, which has hovered around 90.8% over the recent years, alongside an impressive tally of 116 chances created in the same period.

It may surprise many to learn that the Argentinian has also regained possession a remarkable 309 times and made 47 interceptions, indicating that he has well and truly warranted his spot in United’s starting lineup.

Amorim’s rigid position could potentially backfire if, as anticipated, Garnacho finds a new club in the current transfer window.

Strong Interest in Garnacho

While there were reports of Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen’s interest in the player, it seems he would favour a stay in the Premier League, prompting interest from clubs like Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea, the latter of whom recently sent another United winger, Jadon Sancho, back to Old Trafford.

Given Villa’s positive experience with Rashford in the latter half of last season, it’s easy to see why they would pursue a player capable of outmanoeuvring his marker and adept at playing on both flanks.

With Spurs already featuring Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson as right wingers, the notion that Garnacho could be a long-term successor for Son Heung-min gains traction.

Speculations abound regarding the 32-year-old’s future and whether he will depart the club this summer or next, but it is evident that Son’s time in north London is nearing its conclusion.

New manager Thomas Frank is eager to make a striking impact in the transfer market, and acquiring Garnacho would undoubtedly capture the attention of the entire Premier League.

Additionally, Tottenham’s qualification for the upcoming Champions League will likely play a significant role in their negotiations.

Can the Argentinian Step into Rashford’s Shoes at Villa?

Considering that Leon Bailey and Donyell Malen seem to have Villa’s right flank secured, the United winger could serve as a direct replacement for his former teammate, Rashford.

Examining the 27-year-old’s figures from the latter part of the 2024/25 season, four goals and three assists in 13 appearances in all competitions marks a solid one-in-three return, demonstrating that he proved a point to Amorim — and possibly to himself — during that brief spell.

Rashford’s pass completion rate of 88.3% aligns closely with Garnacho’s in this period, while also winning 70% of his tackles reflects a determined spirit that has seemingly faded at United.

If not for Villa’s lack of Champions League participation, it’s likely Rashford would still be under Unai Emery’s guidance, and Villa wouldn’t even be considering the Argentinian.

Chelsea’s Pursuit of Garnacho Seems Illogical

Chelsea have been notoriously active in the transfer market, and this summer is no exception.

The Blues have splashed €803 million on forwards and wingers since 2020. With players like Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke already in the squad, along with Estevao Willian soon to join, one must question why the club, which has struggled with any semblance of coherent direction in player recruitment, would also target Garnacho.

Madueke’s tally of eight goals and three assists in 36 matches is decent, yet for a club vying for silverware, he barely meets the requisite level.

His contributions on the defensive end were commendable, winning 21 of 27 tackles. Furthermore, his 92.9% pass completion in 2024/25 is worth noting.

A transfer for Garnacho, therefore, lacks rationale, and unless the United hierarchy reassess their valuation, it’s likely that United will find themselves stuck with a player who is unwelcome by their manager and wishes to move on.