Alejandro Garnacho was non-committal over his Manchester United future after expressing annoyance at being named on the bench for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
Alejandro Garnacho was non-committal over his Manchester United future after expressing annoyance at being named on the bench for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
The 20-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Red Devils this season, with Napoli and Chelsea expressing interest in signing the Argentina international during the winter transfer window.
That speculation will only intensity after Garnacho – like his brother Roberto on Instagram – expressed frustration at starting Wednesday’s 1-0 final loss to Spurs as a substitute.
The academy graduate had started every knockout match in the run to the final and eventually replaced Mason Mount in the 71st minute at San Mames.
“Obviously it’s hard for everyone,” Garnacho told reporters. “Our season was s***. We didn’t beat anyone in the league.
“We lacked a lot of things. When you don’t score goals, you always need more. Until we reached the final, I played every round. And I played 20 minutes today… I don’t know.
“I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens next.”
Roberto Garnacho uploaded an image of his downbeat brother walking past the Europa League trophy in an Instagram story that remained visible on his account the following day.
The post read: “Working as no one else. Helping every round, coming from two goals in the last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus”.
The Instagram post came shortly after Amorim was asked about the Argentina international’s role in the post-match press conference.
Put to the United head coach that Garnacho, who scored in last year’s FA Cup win against Manchester City, seems more of a goal threat than Mount, he said: “How many times we had this conversation? It was the opposite.
“Some players that come in, like Mason Mount against Bilbao, changed the game. So, now it’s easy to say.
“Who missed the big opportunity in the first half against Bilbao?”
When the reporter said Garnacho, Amorim said with a knowing shrug: “Football is like that.
“Of course, now is easy for us to talk about lots of views. I just look at the game and try to manage things, to improve the team, and try to win games, so you can see it both ways.
“I remember everything about the past, so it’s easy for me to respond to that question.”
Amorim dropped Garnacho, along with Marcus Rashford, for December’s derby trip to Manchester City, but later praised him for the way he had kicked on and “changed in everything”.
The 20-year-old again made headlines in February for his reaction to being substituted in Manchester United’s win against Ipswich, leading him to pay for team-mates’ dinner by way of apology.
Garnacho joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and played a key part in their FA Youth Cup triumph two years later.
As an academy graduate, his sale would represent pure profit on the club’s books as they attempt to rebuild while navigating profit and sustainability rules.
