Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has requested to leave Old Trafford during the summer transfer window
Alejandro Garnacho celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring for Manchester United
Alejandro Garnacho celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring for Manchester United
(Image: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign for Al Nassr this summer despite Cristiano Ronaldo's best efforts to bring the Argentine to the Middle East.
Ruben Amorim's relationship with Garnacho broke down following the Europa League final defeat and MEN Sport understands that the United boss told him shortly afterwards that he was free to sign for a new club this summer. Last week, the Manchester Evening News reported that Garnacho was one of five players to tell the Reds that he wished to leave.
As a result, Garnacho and his quartet of teammates had been granted an extended summer leave to help facilitate transfers elsewhere. While Marcus Rashford, one of the players who has requested to depart, has been back at Carrington to undergoing individual training regimes, Garnacho has been absent.
According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, the 21-year-old was given his first opportunity to leave Old Trafford by a familiar face. Ronaldo and Garnacho formed a tight bond during their brief time together at United with the latter idolising the Portuguese great.
However, this was reportedly not enough to sell Garnacho on a move to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. It is believed Ronaldo's team contacted the forward to try and persuade him to move to the Middle East.
Garnacho's response was to reject these calls as his focus is to remain in the Premier League or Europe to further his career. Due to the lack of taxes in Saudi Arabia, the deal put to the Argentine would likely have been a lucrative one.
But, the forward has perhaps seen the backwards step many players take after signing in the Middle East. Despite being a sort after striker while at Aston Villa, Jhon Duran has been loaned to Fenerbahce after less than a season in the Saudi Pro League which is a marked step down from where he was in the West Midlands.
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