Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
The unsellable five at Manchester United are forcing the club’s window at a standstill with their stance and the effects of that are starting to be felt.
Of the five, Alejandro Garnacho was likely the player Man Utd would have forecasted getting the most money for, but their own handling of the situation didn’t help.
The issue was exacerbated when the player also made it clear that he would like to stay in the Premier League, which, considering the asking price and rivalries, effectively reduced his bidding war to 2-3 teams at most.
The effect of that stance has just reared its latest result, as a door that was partially closed by Garnacho has now been completely shut in his face.
Alejandro Garnacho prays during Manchester United's UEFA Europa League final clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Alejandro Garnacho’s transfer options thin further
It is worth noting that, unlike Marcus Rashford, who seems to be on a “Barcelona or nothing” mission, Garnacho has been diplomatic.
He has made his preference for a Premier League move clear, but hasn’t gone out of his way to reject other approaches, at least in Europe.
One such approach that looked concrete in January and was set to develop in the summer was from Napoli, where Scott McTominay has shown the way for players who left Old Trafford.
Talks broke down in January because Garnacho became important to Ruben Amorim, and the asking price was too steep.
If those were the breaking points, then Napoli have ensured they don’t even get into this mess again, especially as Garnacho already partially shut the door with his PL stance.
Napoli have gone on and completely shut the door in Garnacho’s face now by signing Noa Lang from PSV for about £25m, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Garnacho needs to make a decision
It seems to be a common theme for the unwanted Man Utd players that they refuse to recognise the reality of their situation.
At least Antony has a genuine suitor in Real Betis, as much as they like pleading poverty, but Garnacho, Rashford, and Sancho are in for a rude awakening.
None of the three mentioned above is anywhere near in a position to be dictating where they go, because they are all coming off either a history of unprofessionalism or underperformance.
Napoli’s swiftness in moving on from Garnacho should be a wake-up call, but for a player who didn’t even “wake up” when the manager told him to pray that he finds a club is unlikely to consider this one either.