MU issues final decision regarding Messi's teammate

Man Utd has ultimately consented to transfer Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea with a set fee of £40 million.

After weeks of negotiations, Manchester United agreed to sell Garnacho to Chelsea for a fixed price of £40 million, ending the Argentine player's sidelined status following his conflict with coach Ruben Amorim.

This sale ranks as the fourth largest in the "Red Devils" history, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, and Angel Di Maria. Besides the fixed fee, MU also included a clause to receive 10% from Garnacho’s next transfer deal.

This deal concludes a turbulent period for Garnacho at Old Trafford, where he was excluded from plans by coach Ruben Amorim after disagreements at the end of last season. The 21-year-old Argentine star was deemed surplus, not registered for the summer tour, and even trained separately with other sidelined players like Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford found an escape route through a loan deal to Barcelona.

The major rift between Garnacho and coach Amorim stemmed from the Europa League final, where MU lost 0-1 to Tottenham. The young player was only brought on for the last 20 minutes despite his significant contributions in earlier knockout rounds. Right after the match, Garnacho openly expressed his disappointment: “Before the final, I played in every round and helped the team. But today I only got 20 minutes, I don’t understand. The final could affect my future decisions.”

This statement quickly became a focal point when Garnacho’s brother, Roberto, criticized the club’s treatment of his sibling on social media. The situation escalated, forcing MU to consider parting ways. Chelsea seized the opportunity, increasing their initial £25 million offer, which was rejected, to the final agreed sum of £40 million, matching MU’s firm valuation.

At the start of the new season, Garnacho did not appear in MU’s first three matches, including the 0-1 loss to Arsenal and the 1-1 draw at Fulham. His absence further indicated that his return to the main squad was no longer possible.

The transfer occurred during a difficult period for MU under coach Amorim’s leadership. The low point was the shocking elimination from the League Cup by fourth-tier club Grimsby Town after a dramatic 11-12 penalty shootout. That defeat not only damaged MU’s reputation but also exposed instability in the locker room, where personal conflicts significantly weakened team strength.

For Chelsea, signing Garnacho not only adds a fast and skillful attacking option but also signals their ambition to revive. For Garnacho, this £40 million contract marks a major turning point in his career, offering a chance to escape the “surplus” label and prove himself at Stamford Bridge.