Alejandro Garnacho’s time at Manchester United appears to be nearing its end after manager Ruben Amorim reportedly told the winger he is free to leave the club this summer.
The decision comes just days after United’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham, where Garnacho was controversially brought on as a substitute in the 71st minute despite having played a key role in earlier rounds of the competition. The snub sparked public frustration from both Garnacho and his brother, with tensions escalating in the aftermath of the loss.
Speaking after the match, the 20-year-old Argentina international hinted at his dissatisfaction, stating: “Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know. The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards.”
His brother, Roberto, took to social media to further stoke the fire: “Working as no-one else, helping every round, coming from two goals in the last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus.”
As reported by The Athletic, Amorim has since informed Garnacho that he will be allowed to seek a move away from Old Trafford. The decision adds another twist to a strained relationship that has never truly settled since Amorim’s arrival from Sporting CP earlier this season.
Though Garnacho is United’s second-highest scorer this season with 11 goals, he has failed to consistently fit into Amorim’s preferred tactical setup, which lacks a role for a traditional winger. The Argentine has often been forced to adapt to unfamiliar positions or been left out entirely, despite his contributions in key matches.
The fracture between manager and player dates back to December, just a month after Amorim took charge. Ahead of the Manchester derby, Amorim controversially dropped both Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, citing concerns over “training performances, game performances, and engagement with team-mates.” While Rashford would remain sidelined longer, Garnacho was quickly recalled. Still, the rift never fully healed.
In Bilbao, during United’s crucial Europa League semi-final, Amorim opted to start Amad Diallo and Mason Mount in more central attacking roles behind Rasmus Hojlund, again leaving Garnacho on the bench.
When asked about Garnacho’s future in a press conference ahead of United’s final Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, Amorim remained non-committal: “I will speak with my players but the focus is the last game. I don’t know what is going to happen but we have a plan.”
He added, “We were prepared for both situations, with Champions League and without. We have an idea of the type of squad we want, but we still have the last game. We have time to address all these situations.”
With no European football next season, Amorim is preparing for a squad reshuffle and is reportedly looking to reduce numbers while targeting new signings. Garnacho’s potential departure could prove financially beneficial, particularly under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, as the player qualifies as ‘homegrown’. His sale would provide greater spending flexibility in the transfer market.
Chelsea were close to securing Garnacho’s signature in January before talks collapsed. Napoli, fresh from winning the Serie A title, are also believed to be interested in acquiring the dynamic winger, who joined United’s academy from Atletico Madrid in 2020.
As for potential incomings, United have been strongly linked with Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, who has a £62.5 million release clause.
Whether or not Garnacho features against Villa this weekend remains to be seen. But his emotional post-match comments and Amorim’s stance suggest that the Argentine’s promising yet turbulent spell at Old Trafford may soon come to an end.
