Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim
All would not appear to be harmonious at Manchester United for Alejandro Garnacho. Linked with a move to Aston Villa, it would appear that - like former Villa loanee Marcus Rashford - his time at Old Trafford is coming to an end having been informed by boss Ruben Amorim that he has no future in the Portuguese's plans.
Garnacho, who is only 21 later this summer, has racked up 144 appearances for United since joining the club from Atletico Madrid's academy in 2020. Last year he contributed 21 goals and assists in 58 appearances in what was an underwhelming campaign which did at least involve a final.
Speaking of which, Garnacho - who was supposedly informed by Amorim that , only for the player to work his way back into the incoming manager's thoughts - was left out of the starting XI as the Red Devils lost to Tottenham in Bilbao and that prompted a rather angry message from his brother Roberto.
"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," he said after the game, which United lost 1-0 courtesy of a Brennan Johnson goal.
Amorim, was complimentary of the Argentine when he spoke of hos he'd reintegrated himself back into the squad in the winter, having looked as though he'd be on his way out of the club at the first opportunity.
"He changed right away since that game against Manchester City, the way he understands things, he understands that I just want to help him and I just want to win games," Amorim said at the time. He changed in everything – the approach when I talk to him, the way he recovers, he understands sometimes I'm a different coach and that I'm demanding in my way.
"Sometimes it's hard with the first impact because it's a different type of coach. He understands [now] that it's never in a bad way – it's always for him. I think all the merit is for Garnacho. He is improving and we want to continue to improve with Garnacho."
Garnacho, who like Rashford still has three years left on his United contract, did by comparison seem to get on with Amorim's predecessor Erik ten Hag, who has been tipped to move for the winger now that he has become the new Bayer Leverkusen manager.
Last summer, while still in charge at Old Trafford, the Dutchman admitted that he agreed that, while it wasn't necessarily this case in the present moment, Garnacho was well on his way to obtaining 'world class' status.
"You have gone very quickly," Ten Hag said to reporters who put the perceived status to him. "World-class is something where he has to go a long way. He has a high potential, 100 per cent, but last season he contributed and he can be a starting-XI player.
"To make that jump to being a world-class player, he has a long way to go. It starts with hard work. That has brought him to where he is now and that will bring him to being a world-class player because I agree he has the potential."
With his relationship with Amorim on the rocks, Villa could yet take advantage of Garnacho's uncertain situation and help him to realise the potential Ten Hag clearly deemed him to possess. Photos of him wearing Rashford's Villa shirt while on holiday appear to have only fanned those flames of speculation.
adidas Aston Villa range - how to get yours!
Aston Villa have announced that they are selling a new range of fashion items that fans are going to be clamouring to get hold of ahead of the new season - including a limited edition of the iconic adidas Samba range.
The Villa colours are displayed on the trainers and they also show off the Villa badge.
You can also find an adidas DNA hoody which comes in simple Villa colours and a low key traditional adidas design.
The same design can be found on classic adidas track top on offer, this is the type of track top that fans love to wear -
The DNA range continues with a claret and blue t-shirt - , and on the training pants which can also be matched with any of the items -