​Manchester United look set to receive a major boost after Chelsea reportedly made a ruthless decision regarding Alejandro Garnacho’s future, according to a fresh report. Garnacho, 22, switched to Chelsea last summer following a high-profile falling-out with then-Cord coach Ruben Amorim, with the Blues paying £40 million to land the Argentina international. The spat centered on Amorim’s choice to start Mason Mount ahead of Garnacho in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, a game which ended in a 1-0 defeat for United.
In the post-match interview at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Garnacho said he would be rethinking his long-term prospects at Old Trafford after being left out of the starting XI. This prompted Amorim to tell him, in front of the whole squad upon returning to Manchester, that he was free to leave.
Alongside Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, Garnacho was placed in Chelsea’s infamous “bomb squad,” training away from the first team as the club pursued permanent exits for each player. There was substantial interest from Italy, led by Napoli, but the winger remained intent on a Stamford Bridge move, with Chelsea having shown interest during the January 2025 window.
The move has not worked out as hoped, and Garnacho struggled for form last season. In 33 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League, he managed only two goals, with a particularly indifferent display in United’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea in April.
Now Chelsea are reportedly prepared to sell Garnacho just a year after his arrival. The appointment of Xabi Alonso, who plans to implement a 3-4-2-1 system similar to the one he used at Bayer Leverkusen, has left Garnacho with no obvious place in the new tactical setup. Fabrizio Romano reports that Garnacho is being made to train separately from Alonso and the rest of the first-team squad at Cobham, reflecting the treatment he endured at Manchester United previously. Chelsea are said to be working closely with his representatives to facilitate an exit.
Romano notes that Chelsea value Garnacho at around €50 million for clubs abroad and about £45 million for Premier League clubs. The Blues are prepared to sanction a permanent departure this summer, with AS Roma understood to have shown interest in a loan arrangement. The deal also carries a potential windfall for United due to the 10% sell-on clause included in INEOS’s deal with Chelsea last year. If Garnacho were to leave for £45 million this summer, United would receive £4.5 million as a windfall, a welcome boost in a window where every penny counts at Old Trafford. This potential return would be welcomed by Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, who would benefit from the financial ripple effect for a second consecutive close season.