Alejandro Garnacho reflects on Manchester United exit
Alejandro Garnacho has confessed that his own behaviour played a part in his turbulent departure from Manchester United last summer, reports BritPanorama.
The Chelsea winger, who moved to Stamford Bridge in a £40 million transfer, spoke candidly to Premier League Productions about the circumstances surrounding his Old Trafford exit. The 21-year-old stated, “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. In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things.”
When asked whether leaving United caused him pain, the Argentina international acknowledged it did hurt him deeply. Garnacho explained, “Maybe yes, because 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, from the fans, the stadium, everything was really good.”
The Argentine’s relationship with former manager Ruben Amorim deteriorated significantly during his final months at the club. Tensions reached a breaking point following United’s Europa League final loss to Tottenham in May, when Garnacho publicly expressed frustration at being used only as a late substitute. His brother Roberto further inflamed the situation by posting on social media, accusing Amorim of throwing the winger “under the bus.” Garnacho also drew criticism for sharing an image of himself wearing an Aston Villa shirt bearing Marcus Rashford’s name, another player who had fallen out of favour with Amorim.
Despite the acrimonious circumstances of his departure, Garnacho insists he holds no bitterness towards his former club. He remarked, “It’s just sometimes you have to change for the good of your life or the next steps. I only have good memories of Man United.” The winger, who joined United’s academy from Spain as a teenager in 2020, spent five years at the club and scored in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, a highlight of his time in Manchester.
Garnacho added, “With United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, no one in the club or the teammates. It’s just a moment in life that changes and life continues. I have no regrets.” His first season at Chelsea has proven challenging, with the winger making 37 appearances across all competitions and scoring eight goals. He has started 20 matches under Liam Rosenior, who took charge in January following Enzo Maresca. Back in March, Rosenior commended Garnacho’s reaction to not starting, noting that he had been training well and showing real positivity when coming off the bench.
As football continues to intertwine careers and life chapters, Garnacho’s journey is a reminder of the complex relationships players forge with their clubs, proving that even a change can bring a fresh start.
