Alejandro Garnacho has found himself under increasing scrutiny following his move away from Manchester United.
The winger, who left Old Trafford in a £40 million deal to join Chelsea last year, has struggled to make a strong impression.
His recent outing did little to silence critics. Garnacho came off the bench during Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, but he failed to influence the game in any meaningful way.
Transfer News Live has already revealed that Chelsea are ready to sell Alejandro Garnacho next summer. Also, Garnacho revealed his love for United in a recent interview.
That performance has only added to the growing debate around his development. While his talent has never been in doubt, questions around consistency and attitude continue to surface.
Now, a former figure within the Manchester United setup has offered a strong opinion on the situation.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and the Football podcast, Nicky Butt who worked closely with Garnacho during his academy days did not hold back.
Butt was the academy manager when Garnacho arrived, reflected on his early impressions. He said: “He signed at 16.
“I was academy manager at the time and he signed in a deal where they also signed Alvaro [Carreras]. Garnacho was always a bit stand-off-ish, he had a high opinion of himself.”
Butt then went further, raising concerns about how quickly the winger rose within the club. He said:
“I thought he had an edge about him. And when he got into the first-team, I will just say what I think because I was there, he got above his station way too quick.
Butt also pointed to moments that may have shaped that rise. He added:
“He got superstar status too quick and he obviously scored the bicycle kick which was phenomenal.”
However, the criticism did not stop there. Butt questioned both attitude and behaviour during Garnacho’s time at United. He said:
“But the best thing United did was sell him because, forget his ability, and I don’t think he is that great anyway, I thought his attitude was a disgrace when he was at United.”
“More importantly, when he left, and if you completely disrespect your team-mates and the football club when you leave, then that’s it.”
Interestingly, Butt compared Garnacho with another former academy player. He said: “We had a lad called Anthony Elanga. I thought he was much better than Garnacho with talent.”
That comparison adds another layer to the debate around Alejandro Garnacho’s time at Manchester United and his current struggles.
Want to get the latest transfer news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
