Will Alejandro Garnacho’s summer be a remake of the one experienced by Raheem Sterling last summer? Arriving at Chelsea on the last day of the summer transfer window from Manchester United for an amount estimated at more than 45 million euros, Alejandro Garnacho certainly imagined a completely different scenario for his debut at Stamford Bridge. Only one year after his arrival, the 22-year-old Argentinian winger finds himself in a very uncertain situation. Despite 43 appearances in all competitions, his offensive record remains largely insufficient with only eight goals, far from the expectations placed on a player recruited at a high price and considered one of the great offensive talents of his generation. A complicated adaptation which ultimately prolongs the difficulties already encountered during his last months at Manchester United.
The arrival of Xabi Alonso on the Blues bench now seems to have accelerated the questions surrounding his future. While several players not selected for the 2026 World Cup have returned to training at Cobham, including Cole Palmer and João Pedro, Garnacho would not have participated in the first sessions with the new Spanish manager as indicated by Daily Mail. For its part, Chelsea has not communicated on the reasons for this absence, whether it is linked to an injury or another reason, but the London club would now be open to a departure of its summer recruit. The leaders would even favor a definitive sale rather than a loan, proof that the Argentinian no longer really seems to fit into the plans of the new project carried by Alonso.
A departure this summer in sight
This situation comes after a season where Garnacho never completely succeeded in convincing his various coaches. Neither Enzo Maresca at the start of the financial year, nor Liam Rosenior after his arrival in January, nor even interim Calum McFarlane placed total confidence in him over the long term. His playing time notably decreased at the end of the season, with only one start in the last twelve matches. On the left wing, Pedro Neto has established himself as a preferred option, while Chelsea are now looking to build a squad capable of starting on new bases, notably with the arrival of Emmanuel Emegha, already seen in training. For Garnacho, who was not called up with Argentina for the 2026 World Cup, the observation is necessarily difficult… His status has considerably weakened in a few months.
Garnacho’s possible departure is not entirely surprising in England, however. Even before the transfer window opened, rumors were already suggesting a separation between the player and Chelsea, while his lack of regularity was starting to worry. At the same time, the former head of the Manchester United training center, Nicky Butt, had already pointed out certain aspects of his personality, estimating in the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Football that the Argentinian had “always been a bit distant” and that he had become “a superstar way too quickly”. The former Mancunian midfielder even said that the player’s departure represented “the best thing Manchester United have done”criticizing his attitude and recalling that no player should believe himself to be more important than his club. After an encouraging 2024-2025 season with 11 goals and 10 assists in the Red Devils jersey, Garnacho thought he would relaunch his career at Chelsea.
A rebound in Serie A?
Despite this delicate situation in London, Alejandro Garnacho retains a certain rating on the transfer market, particularly in a context where wingers are highly sought after. Several clubs could therefore try their luck this summer, starting with AS Roma, already cited among the contenders in Serie A, even if no direct discussions have yet been initiated between the two teams according to the English media. The Argentinian had already been courted during the previous summer transfer window, notably by Saudi clubs, but then refused to leave Europe so quickly. Bayer Leverkusen, then managed by Erik ten Hag, also inquired about his situation, but Garnacho ultimately chose to continue his adventure in the Premier League. A year later, however, its future seems much more uncertain.
