Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United in bitter circumstances last summer before sparking “concern” with something he did

Alejandro Garnacho was once tipped to spearhead Manchester United’s attack into a new and more fruitful era.

The Argentine joined United in 2020 as a mere 16-year-old from Atletico Madrid. Determined to follow in his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps, the youngster broke into the first-team fold, playing alongside the aforementioned veteran and exciting Old Trafford with his wing play.

Garnacho went from strength to strength under Erik ten Hag and helped save the Dutchman’s job, at least temporarily, with a goal against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Along with Kobbie Mainoo, he was seen as a key player for the club for the next decade, only to end up joining Premier League rivals Chelsea last August for £40million.

The Manchester Evening News now takes a look at how it came to be that such an exceptional talent left United, his current relationship with the team and how he is faring in west London.

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Bitter exit

The beginning of the end for Garnacho at United was the arrival of Ruben Amorim. Early signs of friction between player and head coach appeared in December 2024 when the Argentina international was dropped, along with Marcus Rashford, for a Manchester Derby after apparently performing poorly in training.

Their relationship soured as the season went on, and he was left out of the starting line-up for last season’s Europa League final, which United lost. He was openly critical of the decision, which all but confirmed he would have no further part to play under the Portuguese boss, as he was relegated to the ‘bomb squad’ over the summer and sold to Chelsea.

Garnacho made 144 appearances for United, netting 26 goals and providing 22 assists. He left United with a farewell message that indicated he held some fondness for his previous club.

But he also expressed little remorse about departing the red half of Manchester in bitter circumstances. Garnacho even suggested leaving United was an essential move for his development. When asked whether he held any regrets, Garnacho responded: “No.”

Pressed on whether he felt sadness about how his spell at United concluded, he again said: “No.” He added: “Sometimes in life you need to change things to take a step forward or improve as a player,” Garnacho explained. “It was the right moment, and the right club. So it was an easy decision.”

Message to Fernandes

Despite his attitude towards the club, Garnacho seems to still cherish his friendship with several of his former team-mates. He appears to be following United’s matches closely, allegedly giving his views on Mainoo’s own issues with Amorim earlier this season.

And, following United’s shock 3-2 win over Arsenal in January, he shared the players’ enthusiasm on social media. After the game, United skipper Fernandes shared a few pictures from the match, including one with goalscorer Patrick Dorgu, who delivered a strong performance.

He wrote: “Ballon D’orgu,” followed by a lovestruck emoji. That prompted a response from Garnacho, who replied with: “T best.”

Chelsea struggles

Despite leaving United for a hefty fee, Garnacho’s first season at Chelsea has been underwhelming. He has scored six goals and notched three assists in 29 appearances but has only shown flashes of brilliance as opposed to consistently imposing himself on matches.

After a poor display against relegation-threatened West Ham in January, Garnacho was called out by his own manager. Liam Rosenior said: “[He’d] be the first to say that maybe his performance wasn’t to his level in that [West Ham] game, but there were many collective things. I know Garna is an outstanding player, that’s why he’s here…”

Pundit Gary Neville also took a swipe at the forward while partly blaming him for their 2-0 deficit at half-time. The United legend said: “That left side of Chelsea was obliterated. Alejandro Garnacho is a player that divides opinion, I think, at times.

“A lot of people are questioning, is he top-class or where is he? Where is he in the pecking order? What was difficult to watch last night was a young player like that, who’s gone to Chelsea and he looked shot to pieces in terms of his confidence on that left-hand side.”

More recently, Alan Shearer has voiced his concern over how easily Garnacho goes to ground, suggesting that it may show a lack of desire to really affect games.

Speaking on the BBC One live commentary, Shearer wasn’t too impressed with how easily Garnacho went down from a cross in the first half, saying: “I’d love to be wrong, but I think if he shows more desire and strength, he gets on the end of that, rather than looking for a penalty, which it wasn’t.”

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Victor Osimhen admits he wants Galatasaray to avoid Liverpool in Friday’s Champions League draw.

Galatasaray needed extra time to eliminate Juventus in their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday night as the Serie A club scored three goals without reply to make it 5-5 on aggregate.

Osimhen then found the net in extra time to put Galatasaray in front on aggregate before Baris Alper Yilmaz struck to seal the tie for the Turkish champions.

Galatasaray will now play either Liverpool or Tottenham in the Champions League last-16, with the raw due to take place at 11am on Friday morning.

Galatasaray have already beaten Liverpool in the Champions League league phase this season as Osimhen’s first-half penalty sealed a 1-0 win against Arne Slot’s side at home in September.

Asked if he would prefer to face Liverpool or Tottenham in the Champions League last-16, Osimhen told CBS Sports: ‘I mean to be honest with you, meeting Liverpool now is going to be like some sort of revenge.

‘Anyone we meet now… I wouldn’t say much but I would like to escape Liverpool.

‘But if they come, yeah, we’re going to dig it out but it’s not going to be easy.

Who can the Premier League teams play in the Champions League last-16?

Arsenal will play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta

Chelsea will play either Newcastle United or PSG

Liverpool will play either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

Man City will play either Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid

Tottenham will play either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

Newcastle United will play either Chelsea or Barcelona

‘I mean this is Champions League, no team is easy, we can see how flying Bodo/Glimt are really doing in this tournament.

‘If you want to win you also have to play the big dogs and make a statement for yourself.

‘We’ve met Liverpool but we haven’t played at Anfield. If we meet them it’s going to be an amazing game. I think we’re up to the task, it’s not going to be easy, of course, but we have fight in us.’

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Alejandro Garnacho has continued his form from Manchester United into his role at Chelsea, following his transfer in the summer, with a mixture of promise and frustration coming from his time in west London so far.

Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe believes that Alejandro Garnacho is facing the same frustrations during his early time at Chelsea that he suffered from at Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old left United last summer for a fee worth £40million, having spent nearly five years at the club following his switch from Atletico Madrid as a youngster.

During that spell, Garnacho made 144 appearances for the senior team, scoring 26 goals and assisting 22 times, a tally that could and perhaps should have been much higher, given the threat that he carries into the final third.

For Sharpe, it’s that lack of clear decision-making that leaves much to be desired from the Argentinian international, leading him to believe that is the reason he was sold by United, and that he is still struggling with the same issues at Chelsea.

He told BetBrain: “Alejandro Garnacho has picked up where he left off at Manchester United. When he’s on form, he’s one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League, but one of the reasons Manchester United let him go was because of his decision-making in the final third, which is something he still struggles with.

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“He can become really frustrating when he gets into good positions in and around the penalty box. He’ll get better in those situations with experience and age, but it’s still something he needs to work on for now.”

It’s certainly an element of Garnacho’s general play that left many fans at United frustrated with him, as they knew he could provide much more if they could be improved upon.

Ultimately, it appeared as though it was one reason for a sale, but there were also reports of a falling out between Ruben Amorim and Garnacho that seemingly played a major role in the exit coming about in the summer, with Chelsea eventually pouncing on the deal.

So far, the 21-year-old has made 29 appearances for the Blues, scoring six goals and assisting three times in those matches, finding some mixed fortunes so far.

More recently, the former United star has faced some struggles in form, but Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has sung his praises nonetheless.

“He [Garnacho] creates a threat in terms of his movement,” the Blues head coach said earlier this month when defending his forward.

“I’ve got full backing of him and I will always protect my players and I think he just needs to get some games and some rhythm, which is difficult at the moment because of the amount of changes we’re making. I back him to have a really good second half of the season.”

Garnacho could face off against United again this season in mid-April, when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, in what could be a key head-to-head in the race for Champions League qualification.

Michael Carrick and those above him will certainly be hoping that the winger doesn’t have a key say in how the top-four race ends this campaign.

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Manchester City were handed a major boost in midweek after Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester City’s bid to reclaim their Premier League title was boosted on Wednesday night thanks to relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers. Arsenal were 2-0 up but a late fightback from Rob Edwards’ side rescued a point and gave City renewed confidence.

If City beat Newcastle United on Saturday evening, they will move to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. With Mikel Arteta’s side looking over their shoulders, it’s all to play for in the Premier League run-in.

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MEN Sport has picked out seven matches for City and Arsenal that could settle the title race.

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Man City vs Newcastle United – February 21

If City can find a win on Saturday, the title race will swing in their favour.

Newcastle have found the Etihad Stadium a tough place to visit and they won’t be looking forward to this game after a long trip to Qarabag on Wednesday. Should City win, they will crank the pressure up on Arsenal even more.

Tottenham vs Arsenal – February 22

After the setback at Wolves, the north London derby could be season-defining for Arsenal. Assuming City beat Newcastle, the pressure will be on the Gunners to restore their five-point advantage.

Spurs will be confident of upsetting their fierce rivals with new interim head coach Igor Tudor in the dugout for the first time. The mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should be positive compared to under Thomas Frank and if Arsenal are still suffering a hangover from Wednesday night, they could be tripped up.

Arsenal vs Chelsea – March 1

A double whammy for Arsenal as they follow up the north London derby with a visit from Chelsea. Their head coach Liam Rosenior earned no praise for his approach on their last visit to the Emirates Stadium.

But Chelsea’s ‘negative’ style saw Arsenal struggle to break them down. Only when Chelsea opened up did the Gunners score.

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There is every chance Rosenior looks to copy that tactic when they meet again in the Premier League. City will be hoping Chelsea’s defensive approach will frustrate Arsenal enough for them to drop points.

Chelsea vs Man City – April 11 (Date TBC)

City have not lost at Stamford Bridge since April 2021 but while their recent form against Chelsea is good, they will be wary. In the reverse fixture, Chelsea nicked a point at the death to frustrate the Blues.

At home, Chelsea will be expected to be more offensive – this should play into City’s hands. There has been audible frustration from the fans when Chelsea have struggled under Rosenior.

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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

The Blues will hope they can utilise this, turn the home fans against their team early and make it tricky for Chelsea.

Man City vs Arsenal – April 18 (Date TBC)

No surprise to see this one on the list. This game will give a huge indication as to which way the title is heading.

As things stand, the onus will be on City to take the game to Arsenal and that will be to Arteta’s benefit. However, if the gap is two points or the Blues are leading the way by the time they meet, the game has a different complexion.

Pep Guardiola will be confident his team can pick up the win if they are in striking distance of Arsenal. It should be a day when the Etihad Stadium is at its best.

Man City vs Aston Villa and Crystal Palace vs Arsenal – May 24

With the way the season is going, the title race could go down to the final day. City hold good memories of beating Villa on the final day to win a league title and it is that experience Guardiola will be leaning on if they need it.

Villa will be a tougher opponent considering their league position. But there is a good chance their season will be over should Champions League qualification already be secured.

As for Arsenal, the trip to Palace is not straightforward but they do have a good record there. It will be Oliver Glasner’s last game as manager at Selhurst Park, meaning the hosts will be up for it.

But whoever is top heading into the final day will be expected to complete the job.

One of Cole Palmer’s friends has vowed to get the Chelsea star to Manchester United and claims he ‘belongs’ at Old Trafford.

Palmer, a United fan growing up, joined Chelsea in a £40m deal from Manchester City in 2023.

Despite supporting the Red Devils, it was the blue half of Manchester who poached Palmer at the age of eight and took him through the club’s academy to the first-team.

But Palmer only made 19 Premier League appearances for Man City before selling him to Chelsea, where he has become one of the biggest stars in world football.

Palmer enjoyed a sensational first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 27 goals and making 15 assists – the most of any player in the Premier League.

England caps soon followed – Palmer scored in England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain – and he was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season.

Palmer was slightly less effective last season but still scored 18 goals in all competitions to help the Blues qualify for the Champions League, win the Europa Conference League and then lift the Club World Cup trophy.

The 23-year-old struggled with form and fitness earlier in the current season and reports claimed Palmer was missing Manchester.

It was even suggested Palmer would be ‘open’ to joining his beloved Manchester United, with a return to Man City out of the equation, especially while Pep Guardiola is still in charge.

Chelsea tried to dismiss speculation Palmer could leave the club, insisting he is one of three ‘untouchable’ members of Liam Rosenior’s squad.

But Palmer has continued to be linked with a move and one of his friends has made it his mission to get him to Manchester United.

Manchester-based rapper Tunde spent some time with Palmer during his holiday to Dubai this week as some Chelsea players were given time off ahead of the business end of the season.

Tunde uploaded two pictures of him and Palmer together with the Instagram caption: ‘Bro from early.

‘1 day I will get CP to UTD back home where he belongs. Go ask him who his favourite team is.’

Following a frustrating start to the season, Palmer has looked back to his best in recent weeks, scoring a first-half hat-trick against Wolves.

Asked about Palmer’s future at Stamford Bridge last month, new Chelsea boss Rosenior said: ‘Is he untouchable, is he happy? Yes and yes.

‘It’s simple, Cole Palmer is an incredible player like many players in the group. Cole is here, he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.

‘Cole is very happy. I’ve had numerous conversations with him. Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better, how he can improve and how I can help him.

‘He loves being here and he wants to be a Chelsea player.’

Former Chelsea captain Ruud Gullit certainly hopes Palmer stays put, telling Gambling Insider earlier this week: ‘I don’t know what’s going on with Cole Palmer. Nobody seems to know.

‘If he continues to be in and out of the Chelsea team, then that suggests that something is going on behind the scenes and it’s not just his fitness issues.

‘It’s possible that he’s still a little bit injured and that’s affecting his form, but only Liam Rosenior and the medical staff know the true story.

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‘We haven’t heard Cole’s side of the story yet, so we’re in the dark with what’s going on with him.

‘I really hope he doesn’t leave Chelsea in the summer – I want him to have his chance to win big trophies at Stamford Bridge.

‘We can only speculate at the moment, so let’s see what happens between now and the end of the season.’

But there are those who would like Palmer to be on the move, with Louis Saha insisting he would be a brilliant signing for his former club Manchester United.

‘It would be incredibly exciting to see Cole Palmer at Manchester United,’ Saha told CasinoHawks. ‘He is just a terrific player.

‘If he does think about going back to Manchester again, I’m sure that he’s going to be exciting for United fans.’

For now, Palmer will hope to help Chelsea finish in the top-four – they arefifth with 12 games remaining – and enjoy a deep run in the Champions League.

Chelsea, who thumped Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup last time out, return to Premier League action on Saturday against Burnley.

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Michael Carrick aims to maintain his unbeaten run during this tenure as Manchester United manager when his team heads to Everton next week

Michael Carrick and Manchester United are benefiting from an extended spell without fixtures after their early exit from the FA Cup. Following their elimination under Darren Fletcher’s stewardship, United found themselves without a match over the weekend.

Attention turns instead to their upcoming Premier League encounter against Everton. By the time they return to action, United will have had 13 days since their 1-1 stalemate with West Ham.

Carrick will be aiming to extend his unbeaten streak, having overseen five matches without defeat thus far, including victories over Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham. Currently, he holds the position until the campaign’s conclusion, but his brilliant beginning has already sparked considerable demands for his appointment beyond the summer.

One manager who has been suggested as a potential successor is Luis Enrique. However, the prospect of his arrival has now been dismissed by a club legend. The Manchester Evening News delivers the latest developments from Old Trafford.

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Luis Enrique prospect dismissed

United legend Wayne Rooney was questioned about who he’d prefer to see permanently replace Amorim and he backed Carrick. The England icon also downplayed the influence a manager such as PSG boss Enrique would bring.

“I think with Luis Enrique, I’ve been there and we’ve tried different managers. We tried [Jose] Mourinho and [Louis] van Gaal,” said Rooney on The Overlap Fan Debate.

“Then we tried the likes of [Erik] ten Hag and [Ruben] Amorim and they don’t work. I just think Carrick makes sense. I felt that from the minute I knew he was going in.

“He’s a real calming influence. I think we’re sometimes quick to overlook what’s right here in front of us and say, ‘We’ve got this manager from Turkey or Spain who is going to come in and do this.’

“But actually they’ve got no interest in the football club. At least this will give the foundations for the club to keep building. The infrastructure will be back at the football club.”

Club responds to Jurgen Klopp claims

Elsewhere on the managerial front, the representative of former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made a bombshell claim on Monday, suggesting that both Chelsea and United approached the German following his departure from Anfield.

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Klopp departed in 2024 following a silverware-filled eight-year spell. His representative, Marc Kosicke, now alleges that both the London side and United subsequently sounded out Klopp.

However, sources tell MEN Sport that the club has dismissed claims of approaching Klopp. United rejected the suggestion they ever made contact with the manager either directly or via a third party. Chelsea are also understood to have issued a denial.

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Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer scored a hat-trick against Wolves and has spoken about transfer speculation linking him with Manchester United.

Manchester United-linked Chelsea star Cole Palmer has dismissed speculation linking him with a departure from the club, after the Blues’ talisman netted a first-half hat-trick against Wolves.

The England international bagged all of Chelsea’s goals in the 3-1 victory at Molineux. His opening two strikes came from the penalty spot, as the Blues maintained their impressive form under Liam Rosenior.

After converting his first spot-kick, Palmer abandoned his trademark ‘cold’ celebration and instead charged towards the away end with his hands covering his ears, before blowing a kiss to the Chelsea supporters.

The gesture follows claims that he was experiencing homesickness and was prepared to return to Manchester with boyhood club Manchester United.

However, Palmer now seems to have dismissed those rumours. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the victory, he said:

“Everyone loves to chat rubbish, don’t they? I don’t pay too much attention to it,” Palmer said, when asked about his celebration. “You see things. But I feel like I’ve come from a strong place anyway so I don’t pay attention to it.”

The midfielder also heaped praise on new manager Rosenior. “Life under Liam is amazing, he gives us all confidence,” he said.

“Lets us be ourselves, play free. I’m sure when I’m back proper fit you’ll see the best of me. Him and all the staff give us all confidence on the training pitch, with his strategies, the way we play… I really like it.”

Palmer’s season has been marred by injury, with England star sitting out 21 matches in all competitions this campaign. However, he has played in the last four games across all competitions, starting the most recent two Premier League fixtures.

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He made a significant revelation about his fitness. “I don’t think [I’m 100% fit] just yet,” he admitted.

“Obviously people don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but being injured the whole season is not ideal and when I’m not able to perform as I want to because I’ve been injured, and still dealing with the injury, but hopefully I can get over the injury soon by managing it. I know what level I can provide when I feel 100% fit.

“Not being 100% fit isn’t ideal, I still feel like I can help the team but when I’m back to full fitness I feel like I can go to another level.”

Speaking to the Chelsea website, Palmer added: “I’ve never been injured before in my career. This is something new to me, and I’m still finding out how to deal with it.

“It has been frustrating, I don’t feel like I’ve played a game this season fully fit. I’ve been going into games thinking, ‘Can I do certain things? Can I not?’ Overthinking it.

“The staff have been really good. I’ve been working closely with the physios on a day-to-day basis. They have all helped, and I’ll get through it.

“I’m not here to make excuses, and ”ll get over the injuries. I know what I can do when I’m fit, and hopefully I can get back to that soon. For now, I just manage it and get there.”

Cole Palmer scored a hat‑trick for Chelsea, and Bruno Fernandes has fuelled speculation by sending the midfielder a message following recent links to Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has sent Cole Palmer a message following Chelsea’s 3–1 win over Wolves, in which the forward scored a hat‑trick. Palmer returned to the scoresheet in a season which has been disrupted by injuries so far.

The 23‑year‑old struck all three goals for Chelsea in the first half at Molineux, underlining the impact he can make on a match. During his first season at Stamford Bridge, Palmer netted 27 goals in all competitions, collected multiple individual awards, and established himself as a regular for England.

His performances even sparked transfer speculation during the January window, with reports linking him to Manchester United amid claims he was feeling homesick.

Although Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior dismissed those rumours, it’s clear that figures at United have been keeping a close eye on his progress.

Fernandes was spotted in the comments section of Palmer’s Instagram post after the match, where the Chelsea star shared several snaps from the game alongside the caption: “Just enjoy.”

The Portuguese skipper replied: “What a player,” followed by a clapping emoji. His comment quickly gained more than 3,900 likes and hundreds of replies.

Some fans jokingly called him “agent Bruno,” while another wrote: “I see what you’re doing here, mate.”

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