Alejandro Garnacho came on at half-time. (Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
The season has finished and Manchester United are still finding a way to lose football matches.
United faced ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur in front of 72,000 supporters and they suffered a 1-0 defeat after a second half goal from Maung Maung Lwin.
Maung Maung Lwin is not a household name, but he might become famous in Malaysia after taking the scalp of United. The result of the post-season friendly does not matter, although there were a few interesting aspects of the contest, including the involvement of Alejandro Garnacho.
Ruben Amorim made wholesale changes at the interval and Garnacho was introduced, despite having been told before the final day of the season he could find a new club this summer.
Amorim was asked if Garnacho had played his final game for the club after the win over Aston Villa and said: "Garnacho is one more player of Manchester United, so I don't know what is going to happen in the future. He is a normal player."
United's head coach added: "Garnacho is a Manchester United player who was not in the squad today, but he is a normal player in our club and I have no news that will change [that]."
Speaking before the Aston Villa match, Amorim confirmed that Garnacho would still travel on the post-season tour. It's possible that the only reason Garnacho has been included on the trip is to protect his transfer value.
Garnacho was omitted from the squad on the final day of the campaign, but he was still given minutes against ASEAN All-Stars, which suggests to the outside world that it's business as usual.
The reality is the relationship between Garnacho and Amorim seems to have broken down, and if that is the case, it damages United's power in negotiations in the summer window.
Garnacho could potentially fetch a transfer fee of £70million, but suitors will submit lower offers if they know United want to sell the winger because Amorim wants him out of the door.
That means including Garnacho on the post-season tour and giving him minutes is perhaps a clever ploy to protect his value. Interested clubs, like Napoli and Chelsea, will probably see right through the tactic, but it's better to have Garnacho involved with the first team than frozen out.
It's obviously difficult to sell a player for their market value when a public decision has already been communicated, so Amorim must do what he can to protect his bargaining power.
Garnacho was pictured with a huge smile when the post-season team photo was taken at Manchester Airport, but he didn't look quite so cheery during exchanges with Malaysian fans the day before facing ASEAN All-Stars - it must be added that a long-distance flight and more games after a draining season are enough to leave any player feeling glum.
It's a shame to see Garnacho's time at Old Trafford end on a sour note, if indeed he does leave this summer, but he has crossed managers on too many occasions. Amorim has reiterated he is still a United player, which seems in name only.
Garnacho's last game for United looks set to be on tour in Hong Kong this week.