Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United this summer but it's likely he'll never forget the role that Red Devils' captain Bruno Fernandes played in helping to shape his career
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes celebrate for Man Utd
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes formed a strong bond as team-mates
It could be said that Alejandro Garnacho's time at Manchester United was dogged by inconsistency. Yet the one constant was his unique relationship with club captain Bruno Fernandes, who took on the role as the player's mentor through frequent bouts of tough love.
From scoring award-winning goals and lifting the Carabao and FA Cup to being banished from the first team under United boss Ruben Amorim, Garnacho traversed some extreme highs and lows for the Red Devils. Signing from Atletico Madrid for just £420,000 in October 2020, United sold the 21-year-old to Chelsea this summer for £40million.
The Argentinian endured a rocky final few months at Old Trafford following a plethora of behavioural issues. A breakdown in relations between player and club reached a tipping point after the winger publicly questioned Amorim's decision to bench him for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur in May.
Fernandes expects 'a lot'
In November 2023, Garnacho scored a remarkable opening goal in United's 3-0 win at Everton, a stunning overhead kick that went on to win FIFA's Puskas award. Afterwards, Fernandes was careful to not shower the youngster with too much praise and, instead, focused on keeping the Argentine's feet on the ground after his biggest moment in a United shirt yet.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United scores the team's first goal the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United at Goodison Park on November 26, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Garnacho won the Puskas award for his wonder strike against Everton in November 2023
“He’s not a great player yet but he has a great future ahead,” Fernandes said of Garnacho on Sky Sports. “We expect a lot from him, he knows that. He knows I am always going to be behind him asking for more, but obviously it was an amazing goal.”
Garnacho's selective hearing
After Fernandes had assisted Garnacho, then 18, against Wolves in May 2023, the United captain admitted he was trying to help nurture his team-mate, although the youngster's penchant for only listening to instructions when he wished was proving to be a stumbling block.
Bruno Fernandes speaks with Alejandro Garnacho
Fernandes made his opinion of =Garnacho clear when the youngster joined United's first team
"What I have to say to Garnacho, I say to him at the training ground, whenever we are eating, on the training ground, wherever. If he wants to hear, he hears," Fernandes candidly said.
"If not, he doesn't, but I try to help. I think he did an interview talking about me trying to help him a lot of times, and that's what I'm trying to do."
Bad attitude claim
Fernandes was unafraid to publicly call him out when he felt his team-mate needed reprimanding. Garnacho didn't play a minute of any of United's four friendlies in Thailand and Australia in the summer of 2022 and he was rebuked by former manager Erik ten Hag for being late to team activities on several occasions.
Alejandro Garnacho poses as he is unveiled as a Chelsea new signing at Stamford Bridge on August 30, 2025 in London, England.
Alejandro Garnacho has departed United for Chelsea
After Garnacho scored in a Europa League tie in November 2022, Fernandes conceded that his younger colleague's attitude was holding him back at the start of that season. He said: "At the beginning of the season he was not at his best.
"In the [pre-season] tour he didn’t have the best attitude that he should have, and that’s why he didn’t get his chances until now. He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, he’s got a different attitude and he’s deserving his chances."
Garnacho's farewell post
While Garnacho may have left for Stamford Bridge under a cloud, he made sure to address his former captain on social media upon leaving Old Trafford.
With a post that demonstrated just how significance Fernandes' guidance was to him, the now-Chelsea star posted: "Thanks for everything you did for me, I love you [kiss emoji]," accompanying an image from United's thrilling 3-3 stalemate with Galatasaray in November 2023.
In a classy touch, the message also marked Fernandes' 31st birthday. Garnacho could now make his Chelsea debut on Saturday evening against Brentford at the G-tech Community Stadium. Fernandes, meanwhile, will continue to spearhead Amorim's attempted revival of his flailing United side, safe in the knowledge that he did all he could to help nurture Garnacho's talent, even if his pleas for professionalism failed to hit the mark as intended.
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