According to emerging reports, Manchester United rejected the opportunity to sign Romeo Lavia as part of the summer transfer that sent Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea. After the Argentine winger lost favor under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, the Red Devils decided to sell him for a straight £40 million.
Chelsea was willing to lower the financial component of the deal and include Lavia, but United’s management reportedly turned down the offer because of reservations about the Belgian’s fitness history.
That stance came despite an acknowledged need for a central midfielder at Old Trafford. It has since led to Bruno Fernandes being deployed in a deeper role alongside Casemiro in the middle of the park.
Since moving to Stamford Bridge, Lavia’s injury issues have been a recurring theme. Due to a combination of injuries and fitness setbacks, the 21-year-old has reportedly missed 88 games and has yet to complete a full 90 minutes in two and a half years.
Just four minutes into Chelsea’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag earlier this month, the former Southampton player sustained a quadriceps injury that has left him sidelined once more.
Lavia was acquired by the Blues from Southampton in the summer of 2023 for £58 million on a long-term deal. However, his debut season in west London was essentially a bust, as he made just one appearance. In contrast, Garnacho has already played ten games for the London club and is beginning to make a name for himself under Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea now sees the Argentine as a valuable acquisition after he scored a few goals and recently recorded two assists in a Premier League victory over Wolves.
Why Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United for Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho has explained his decision to leave Manchester United for Chelsea, acknowledging that he needed a new beginning after his exile at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim.
Before completing a £40 million move to Stamford Bridge in August, the Argentina international’s relationship with the club and a portion of the fan base deteriorated. This came after he was added to Amorim’s infamous “bomb squad.”
As Amorim advanced with a reorganized attacking line, the 21-year-old was left out of United’s summertime first-team plans. He was made to train apart from the main group, and skipped the team’s preseason tour. According to reports at the time, Chelsea had been keeping an eye on Garnacho for months before making a firm move when it became apparent he was surplus to requirements.
They offered him Champions League football and a more significant role in Enzo Maresca’s rebuild. In an interview with TNT following Chelsea’s victory over Benfica in September, Garnacho stated:
“I think it was a difficult moment there, just training alone. But I’ve got nothing bad to say about my old club Manchester United. There are just bad moments in life… I’m very happy to be here now, play in [the Champions League] and get three points today.”