Joe Cole has warned Alejandro Garnacho to pull up his socks after leaving Manchester United for Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho’s journey to Manchester United has been straight out of a film script. The lad who arrived from Atlético Madrid in 2020 has made his mark in just a few years. The 21-year-old cemented his place in the academy by winning the FA Youth Cup in 2022 and being named Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year. He made his debut in April 2022 at just 17 years old and has since scored 26 goals in 144 games.
The Argentine’s bicycle kick against Everton earned him the Puskas Award, while his goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City will always be remembered. Yet, things changed this summer. His relationship with Ruben Amorim deteriorated, especially after he was benched in the Europa League final. The 21-year-old began training separately from the team in pre-season, and that rift paved the way for his departure.
Chelsea deal and a new beginning:
Finally, reports from ESPN India and Sky Sports confirmed that Garnacho has left Manchester United and joined Chelsea. The deal is worth £40 million, with United getting a 10% sell-on clause. Garnacho has signed a long-term contract that runs until 2032. The decision did not come suddenly, as there were already reports that he wanted to leave the club, and he turned down Bayern Munich’s offer and chose Chelsea. It was said that Enzo Maresca was looking for a left-winger, and Garnacho felt he was the right fit for his project. He also called Chelsea “the best team in the world”, which is painful for United fans, and expressed happiness about his new journey.
Joe Cole’s opinion and United’s view:
Joe Cole has warned Alejandro Garnacho to pull up his socks after leaving Manchester United for Chelsea.
Garnacho completes £40m move from Manchester United to Chelsea on long-term deal.
Former Chelsea player Joe Cole clearly said in his statement that Garnacho has the talent, but he has to improve his game and attitude. He hinted that the winger needs to make better decisions on the pitch and handle situations like being benched more maturely. Cole described Chelsea as an environment where Garnacho can adapt, but also said that he will not get a place in the starting eleven at Stamford Bridge easily. Cole’s opinion matches United’s view, as there was talk at Old Trafford that Garnacho’s attitude had become a big problem.
“At his best is the crucial thing because he’s going to be competing with Gittens, you would imagine, for that left wing role and coming in on his right foot.
“He has moments where he looks sensational and looks outstanding. We see Manchester United probably isn’t a great environment for a young player at the moment. We’ve seen players like McTominay leave and thrive.
“There are levels to go up for Garnacho. I think it’s a good price for Chelsea. There are question marks on the lad, I don’t know him, but the ins and outs and the things that come out from his camp and how he’s handled being dropped at Manchester United, I think that needs to improve.
“If he wants to knuckle down and become the top player that he can become, he needs to come to a good environment, which I think Chelsea is and grow from there. But there’s lots of competition for those wide positions.”
Quote via: Metro
The right deal or the wrong one?
The question now is whether United made the right move or made a big mistake. The £40 million plus sell-on clause is a landmark deal for the club as it is the biggest transfer of a player coming out of the United academy. Garnacho had made it clear that he no longer wanted to play for United. In such a situation, the club’s options were very limited. The confrontation with Amorim, anger at being benched, and absence from training indicated that the player’s attention was elsewhere. So, practical thinking says that United made the deal wisely.
Still, as United fans, our hearts are not convinced. Garnacho was a player who performed magic in big games. His goal at Everton and the moment in the final against City still give us goosebumps. Selling the Argentine to a rival team like Chelsea, and that too at a time when the player’s true peak is yet to come, may seem risky. The 21-year-old may shine at Stamford Bridge, and we may regret it, but Cole’s opinion also suggests that United chose to avoid future confrontations, given the player’s attitude.
In the end, the deal seems to be a combination of both the club’s compulsion and the player’s stubbornness. United have closed a chapter of the book, but somewhere in the heart, there is a fear that Garnacho’s brilliance will hurt Old Trafford even more in the years to come.