Alejandro Garnacho has been told he can leave Man United by coach Ruben Amorim, who still selected him in their post-season tour squad.
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Garnacho in Malaysia
Garnacho in Malaysia
Ruben Amorim says the situation with Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho is "okay" despite telling the winger he is free to leave the club.
Amorim told Garnacho he could leave United after the Argentine criticised the United head coach's decision to put him on the bench for the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week.
Garnacho was dropped from the United squad for their final game of the Premier League season against Aston Villa on Sunday but he was then included in the travelling squad for their post-season tour of Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
The 20-year-old played in the second half of United's 1-0 defeat to the ASEAN All Stars on Wednesday night and Garnacho is expected to feature again against a Hong Kong XI on Friday.
"It’s not a surprise," Amorim said of Garnacho's presence in Asia. "He’s a player of Manchester United, all the players are here. Some players are injured and it was better not to fly here to play these two games so it’s a normal situation. It’s okay."
There was anger in Hong Kong last year when Lionel Messi did not participate in an exhibition match between Inter Miami and the national team. Chinese officials cancelled two Argentina friendlies that were scheduled for March 2024 in retaliation over Messi's absence and the fallout dragged on for weeks.
Amorim has promised to give all of the United players game time against Hong Kong. "Yes, I heard that," he said of the Messi affair. "If they are fit, they will play. We will have the maximum respect for everybody here. We are going to address that.
"I will think about that when I choose the players to play. We want to use all the young players. We want to balance the team."
United were booed by fans in Kuala Lumpur after they lost and failed to score a week on from losing to Spurs by the same scoreline in Bilbao.
Garnacho is on posters billing United's friendly in Hong Kong
Garnacho is on posters billing United's friendly in Hong Kong
Amorim has been in charge of United for more than six months and assumed additional responsibilities due to the prestige of the role. The Hong Kong manager Ashley Westwood said United need a post-season tour "like a hole in the head" but Amorim insists United should front up to their domestic and overseas supporters.
"I think everybody understands that it is a really hard context because we have the season that we have and it is hard in these moments even to face the fans around the world," Amorim admitted. "It is a moment that is hard for us and we want to finish the season.
"But at the same time we want to give something to the fans. Of course, it is hard to play these games. We have one tour that we are travelling. We don't have time to adapt. Sometimes we are here and we don't have so much time to have contact with the fans to give everything that they deserve.
"But I think it is clear. We cannot hide that it is really tough in this moment for us not to close the season. But again, if there is one thing that is really important in this club it is that we need to face our fans in this moment and we need to give something to our fans around the world.
"We want to do that, but sometimes it is really hard for us. Amad is trying to explain, but we were not really focused in the last game and everybody can feel it.
"But in that moment I understand the fans, I understand the players and we also understand that we want to give something to the fans, but it is hard in this moment. We just want to turn the page."