On 24/5, three days after Manchester United lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final in Bilbao, Amorim gathered the team at Carrington. The already tense atmosphere was further fueled by Garnacho. The Argentinian international openly criticized the coach for being benched until the 70th minute and called the past season terrible. Amorim didn't hesitate to retort, "You should pray to find a new club soon".

From that point on, Garnacho was excluded from the team's plans. He was grouped with other potential disruptors: Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia. They were made to train separately, away from the rest of the squad. They were even left out of the US tour. The match against Hong Kong during the post-season Asian tour became Garnacho's last appearance for Manchester United.

Having joined from Atletico Madrid for a mere 566,000 USD in 2020, Garnacho quickly drew attention with his speed, audacity, and playing style reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo. He was once considered part of a future trio alongside Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo. The image of the three celebrating a goal against West Ham in 2024, perched on an advertising board, was seen as a symbol of a new generation at Old Trafford.

Garnacho (center) with Hojlund (left) and Mainoo celebrating a Manchester United goal against West Ham at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK on 4/2/2024. *PA*

His statistics of 144 matches, 26 goals, and 22 assists for Manchester United aren't bad for a 21-year-old. He scored in the FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, netted a spectacular overhead kick against Everton, and was hailed as a new hope. But Garnacho never achieved consistency.

Both Erik ten Hag and Amorim shared the same assessment: Garnacho lacked discipline and team spirit. Ten Hag had previously punished him for being late during the Thailand tour and for his careless attitude in team meetings. Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez often admonished their younger teammate, but their efforts had little impact.

Garnacho often appeared irritable and reacted negatively to criticism. He once had to apologize for liking a post criticizing Ten Hag and for posting a picture of himself wearing Rashford's Aston Villa jersey after the senior player had left the club. Some teammates felt he played too selfishly, rarely passing, and always wanting to be the center of attention.

Amorim found Garnacho even more difficult to tolerate. During a Europa League group stage match in Plzen in December of the previous year, Garnacho turned his back while the Portuguese coach was giving instructions, infuriating him and leading to his exclusion from the subsequent Manchester derby. In the match against Ipswich, he walked straight down the tunnel after being substituted early, further damaging his image in the coach's eyes.

Even setting aside his attitude issues, Garnacho wasn't the type of player Amorim preferred. The new Manchester United coach favored a system with two number 10s rather than traditional wingers. This meant fewer opportunities for a free-roaming player like Garnacho.

Garnacho's situation divided fans. Some saw him as a stifled talent, lacking empathy and a suitable environment. Others believed he was self-sabotaging his career with his immature attitude. "In our time, the dressing room would have dealt with him," a former Manchester United player commented.

Garnacho and Amorim (left) during a Europa League match in the 2024-2025 season. *EPA*

The management ultimately backed Amorim. In the summer of 2025, Garnacho was sold to Chelsea for 54 million USD, just over half of the 94 million USD offer Napoli had made in 1/2025.

Garnacho made his Chelsea debut last week and displayed two familiar sides. He contributed to Moises Caicedo's goal but later lost track of Fabio Carvalho, allowing him to score an equalizer for Brentford. Coach Enzo Maresca commented that Garnacho needed time to adapt. But the situation repeated itself twice, not just once.

Before the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Maresca admitted he would speak privately with Garnacho and consider starting him, fearing his personal emotions might affect his performance. Ultimately, the 21-year-old forward didn't play a single minute upon his return to Old Trafford.

This was partly because the Italian coach had already used two substitutions in the first half. First, he brought on goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and center-back Tosin Adarabioyo to replace Estevao and Pedro Neto in a defensive move. Then, he had to replace an injured Cole Palmer, bringing on defensive midfielder Andrey Santos to strengthen the midfield. Maresca could have brought Garnacho on in the second half but opted for 19-year-old Tyrique George.

After the match, Garnacho exchanged shirts with Amad Diallo and smiled for photos outside the Chelsea dressing room. Behind him, some of the away team's staff appeared displeased.

Garnacho provided many memorable moments for Manchester United fans, but they greeted his return with boos and jeers. The Argentinian forward is still respected by Chelsea fans. But if he continues down the same path, he risks repeating his past mistakes.

Xuan Binh compiled