Alejandro Garnacho's Manchester United future is in serious doubt following a fallout with Ruben Amorim, and the winger has a history of causing concern among his coaches
Comments
Sport
Ruben Amorim instructs Alejandro Garnacho
Ruben Amorim isn't the first Manchester United coach to spot flaws in Alejandro Garnacho's character
Concerns over Alejandro Garnacho's attitude may mean he's bound to leave Manchester United this summer. And one former Carrington coach provided early warning signs about the South American's supposed character flaws.
There’s growing speculation manager Ruben Amorim is prepared to offload Garnacho after the player was left out of United's last match of the season against Aston Villa. The Argentina international was previously dropped from the XI for the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham, after which Garnacho publicly expressed his frustration at a "s***" season.
Justin Cochrane previously helped lead United's academy when Garnacho starred in the under-18s' FA Youth Cup victory in 2022. The then-17-year-old winger crowned that campaign by winning the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, identifying himself as a future first-team talent.
Cochrane, now a first-team coach at Brentford, noted the player's exceptional talent but also alluded to a mismatch between his conduct and prowess on the pitch. And while he refrained from being overly critical of the young talent, there were hints of possible issues with his behaviour.
Talking to Goal in March 2022 about his efforts to keep Garnacho's ego in check, Cochrane said: "I have a good relationship with Garnacho, and he knows that if he crosses the line, I'll come get him!"
The former QPR and Rotherham defender followed up by saying he and his staff were "pleased" with the player. However, the conversation again shifted to prioritising modesty, something that might not have come unless there were existing concerns.
Justin Cochrane poses for a portrait after being appointed new Head of Player Development & Coaching (U17-23) at Aon Training Complex
Former England under-17 coach Justin Cochrane worked with United's academy for one season before joining Brentford as first-team coach
"My job and the staff's job is to keep players grounded and keep their eyes on the prize," Cochrane added. "Not just the youth prize, but the bigger prize of being in the first team and having a sustained career at a high level, so that's what we're focusing on with Garna."
Amorim isn't the first United manager to have issues with Garnacho's behaviour. The Madrid-born star was previously chastised by Erik ten Hag after he 'liked' social media posts criticising his half-time substitution in a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in April 2024.
Ten Hag later revealed his player had apologised for the incident, suggesting they had put the matter behind them. However, Garnacho was subsequently dropped by the Dutchman in September 2024, shortly before he was sacked, for once again liking posts critical of the coach.
Alejandro Garnacho receiving instructions from Ruben Amorim
Amorim is understood to have told Garnacho he can leave if a suitable offer comes in this summer
Cochrane's comments from 2022 suggest a recurring pattern of behaviour that most coaches would prefer to avoid. And it seems Amorim has reached his limit, with the player apparently free to leave if an appropriate offer is made.
Napoli have shown significant interest in the player during recent transfer windows. However, this potential move may be at risk due to reports suggesting Antonio Conte is ready to depart the club after just one season, having clinched the Serie A title.
This could leave United in a rush to find a club willing to match their valuation for the player. But there's no confusion, it seems, that Amorim is ready to part ways should any outfit stump up the cash, with United supposedly wanting upwards of £60million.