Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United with a mixture of regret and weariness. Once considered a gem from the academy, the Argentinian possessed all the qualities to become a new icon of Old Trafford: speed, technique, and the flair typical of a "Red Devils winger." But in the end, Garnacho left behind a string of problems regarding discipline and attitude.
When talent clashes with ego
The turning point marked the breakdown after Manchester United's defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao. Sitting on the bench until the 70th minute, Garnacho publicly criticized the team's season as "rubbish." Three days later, manager Ruben Amorim called the entire team together and made a drastic decision: Garnacho, along with Rashford, Antony, Sancho, and Malacia, were separated from the starting lineup and trained separately in a tense atmosphere.
From then on, the end of this relationship was only a matter of time. Garnacho no longer had the opportunity to participate in the US tour, and the friendly match against Hong Kong XI became his last in the red shirt. The club's farewell statement – a mere 123 words – was enough to show the coldness in Manchester United's desire to close this chaotic chapter.
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Garnacho could have become an icon of Manchester United. |
Behind that decision lies a conflict between talent and ego. Garnacho had delivered moments of brilliance – a brace against West Ham, the opening goal in the FA Cup final against Man City – but he was too lax in maintaining tactical discipline.
He aspired to be the next Ronaldo, but his teammates saw more in his selfishness and irresponsibility. Both Ten Hag and Amorim were disappointed that he often neglected defensive duties and reacted negatively whenever he received criticism.
A deadlock from tactics to the dressing room.
Ruben Amorim's tactical system itself made Garnacho redundant. The Portuguese coach preferred a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation, in which the two "number 10s" played freely behind the central striker, replacing the traditional wingers.
For Garnacho, who needs space on the wing and the freedom to accelerate, this was like a shirt that was too tight. Even with attempts to adapt, he was still considered an incompatible piece.
Tensions escalated after the match in Plzen, when Amorim felt Garnacho was turning his back on his instructions. From then on, he was dropped from the Manchester derby squad and had virtually no chance of redemption. His impulsive actions – storming into the tunnel after being substituted, or posting social media messages implying he was "thrown under the bus" – only further damaged his image in the eyes of the manager and his teammates.
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Garnacho has now moved to Chelsea. |
Internal conflicts within the dressing room have therefore arisen on numerous occasions. Bruno Fernandes publicly criticized Garnacho for his "lack of good attitude," and Lisandro Martinez tried to guide him but to no avail. Some veteran players even expressed frustration: "In the old days, the dressing room would handle players like that on its own." United's patience ran out.
While his teammates were finding new clubs – Rashford to Barcelona, McTominay to Napoli, Hojlund to an Italian team – Garnacho chose to go his own way. His decision to sell his mansion in Bowdon after only a year, and then erase all traces of Manchester United from social media, shows that the relationship had fractured beyond repair.
The £40 million transfer to Chelsea – only half the amount Manchester United had demanded from Napoli – concludes a sad story. The Red Devils chose to side with Amorim, placing their faith in the new system rather than his rebellious personality. Garnacho, once hailed as the greatest hope of the younger generation, departed coldly.
Tonight, upon returning to Old Trafford, Garnacho will carry with him the desire to prove the Red Devils wrong. But ultimately, he himself squandered his opportunity with impulsiveness and an uncontrollable personality. The question remains: Is Garnacho a rebellious "bad boy" or simply a young talent who has been misunderstood?
For Manchester United, the answer no longer matters – because they have chosen a path that no longer includes him in their future plans.
Source: https://znews.vn/cay-dang-mang-ten-garnacho-post1586890.html
