Juan Sebastian Veron left Manchester United for Chelsea in 2003 and has since admitted that it is the only decision he regrets making during his illustrious career
15:22, 31 Aug 2025Updated 15:32, 31 Aug 2025
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho is a Chelsea player
Juan Sebastian Veron has previously admitted he regrets his switch from Manchester United to Chelsea, as Alejandro Garnacho put the finishing touches on his move to Stamford Bridge.
Following weeks of talks, United have at last reached an agreement with Chelsea in a deal valued at £40million. Blues boss Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that Garnacho was at Cobham completing his medical and putting the final details in place for his transfer.
"I know he is around here," Maresca revealed during his press conference. "I don't know exactly where."
The winger has become the club's seventh summer acquisition, excluding loan departures, and will battle with Pedro Neto and new arrival Jamie Gittens for a place on the wing, whilst striker Joao Pedro and Brazilian youngster Estevao Willian can also operate in wide areas.
When questioned about how he envisaged the United academy product slotting into his squad, Maresca stated: "It's quite clear he's a winger. I see him as a winger," reports the Manchester Evening News.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho was unveiled on Saturday(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Few Premier League players have made the jump from one major championship challenger to another, with Carlos Tevez's contentious move across Manchester to rivals City being a prominent example.
Meanwhile, Veron exemplifies those players who switched to a significant rival, when he departed United for Stamford Bridge in 2003 after merely two campaigns at Old Trafford.
The now-49-year-old initially joined United for a British transfer record fee of £28.1 million, scoring 11 times in 82 appearances and securing one Premier League title. Following his arrival, Sir Alex Ferguson declared: "I never thought I'd spend this much money on a footballer.
Veron
Veron swapped Man Utd for Chelsea(Image: PA)
"I think he's coming into great years of his career and he will peak and we'll get the benefit of that. He is a world-class, fantastic footballer with a vision of a game we can use."
However, Veron lasted just 24 months under Ferguson's management before becoming one of Roman Abramovich's first signings as Chelsea's owner. He left United for £15m, meaning the club took a hit of roughly £13m on their original investment.
Reflecting on his time at Stamford Bridge in 2019, the Argentine admitted: "At Chelsea, the reality is that I had very little time. I had a major back injury and I was out for practically six months. I was already thinking more about going back to Italy than staying there in England."
Juan Sebastian Veron of Chelsea makes a break forward during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Chelsea and Newcastle United held on November 9, 2003 at Stamford Bridge, in London.
Veron would later regret the transfer(Image: Getty Images)
The switch to Chelsea turned out to be a decision he would later regret, as chances were scarce at Stamford Bridge, with just 14 appearances and a solitary goal to his name.
He was sent on loan to Inter Milan and Club Estudiantes de La Plata before taking a year out and staying at La Plata until retiring in 2017.
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Speaking about his regret over the Chelsea move, Veron confessed: "With United, the truth is that there are few things, very few, that I regret. But one is to have left Manchester. They never pushed me or told me 'you have to go', but they gave me the chance, the possibility.
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"I had talks with my former colleagues at that time telling me that I had to stay. And at one moment I decided to leave because I wanted to play, because I didn't know... I should have stayed."