Alejandro Garnacho left Manchester United for Chelsea last summer but is now being linked with another move after being contacted by a rival manager
This summer could prove to be a pivotal juncture in Alejandro Garnacho’s career following reports he has been contacted directly by a rival manager. However, it may not be quite the type of attention the Argentina international had in mind one year on from leaving Manchester United for Chelsea.
Garnacho, 21, was allegedly regarded as a disruptive influence in United’s dressing room ahead of his Old Trafford departure. The winger publicly criticised Ruben Amorim after being dropped by his old manager towards the end of his time there, before completing a £40million switch to Stamford Bridge last summer.
Having struggled to make a significant impact under Liam Rosenior, Argentinian broadcaster TyC has now reported he is on River Plate’s radar. And their manager, Eduardo Coudet, is alleged to have made personal contact in a bid to tempt the winger.
It is understood River Plate are keen to bring Garnacho in on a one-year loan basis, a proposal Chelsea may well be receptive to. A temporary spell away could afford Garnacho the opportunity to rediscover his sharpest form outside the glare of the Premier League spotlight.
The youngster has earned eight caps for Argentina and was part of Lionel Scaloni’s squad as they lifted the 2024 Copa America. However, Garnacho has never lived in the country and qualifies through his mother, having been born and raised in Madrid.
It paints a rather deflating picture of where his fortunes currently stand. Enzo Maresca was at the helm at Stamford Bridge when Garnacho made the move to west London last year, with the Italian appearing to be a firm admirer of the player.
However, Rosenior has proved far less enthusiastic, initially dropping Garnacho from his Premier League starting line-up. The winger’s most telling contributions this season have largely come in cup competitions, most notably a brace off the bench during their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals.
His output in the league has been considerably less impressive, managing just one goal and four assists from 20 appearances this season. That said, Garnacho remains contracted at Chelsea until the summer of 2032, leaving ample time to restore his standing to its previous heights.
The drawback, however, is that Chelsea once again risk paying a depreciating asset on extraordinarily lengthy terms. Garnacho sits among the mid-range earners at Stamford Bridge on a wage of £110,000 a week, though that figure would still represent a considerable stumbling block for River Plate.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
As such, Chelsea would be expected to cover at least a substantial portion of the player’s wages during any loan spell. Adding further complications, Garnacho has previously spoken about his family’s allegiance to Boca Juniors, River Plate’s fiercest rivals.
There is little prospect of Los Millonarios being able to compete for Garnacho’s signature on a permanent basis unless Chelsea were willing to accept a considerable financial loss. United also have a vested interest in seeing the player’s value rise given they are entitled to 10 per cent of any future fee Chelsea receive for him.
