Garnacho is having a tough time at Chelsea. On top of that, none of his old United teammates acknowledged him after the game. Luke Shaw even took a dig at him online.
Manchester United consolidated its position in the fight for Champions League qualification for next season by beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The match, corresponding to matchday 33 of the Premier League, not only meant another blow for the London team, which suffered its fourth consecutive loss without scoring goals, but was also marked by a series of gestures and tensions between old acquaintances from both squads.
After the win, Luke Shaw posted an image on social media showing him pushing his former teammate Alejandro Garnacho to the ground, a gesture that showed the discomfort arising from the Argentine's controversial departure last summer and was taken as a mockery by the Red Devils fans of the experienced defender against the Argentine.
Shaw's Instagram post was accompanied by the message "important victory," a clear reference to Garnacho's situation at Chelsea, the team he joined for 40 million pounds after forcing his transfer.
Several players, such as Matheus Cunha (author of the only goal of the night in London) and Alex Telles, a former United player who now plays for Botafogo in Brazil, reacted to the message, adding comments and emojis that multiplied the reach of the post, as reported by the English newspaper The Sun.
The moment that illustrated the United dressing room's discontent with Garnacho became evident after the final whistle: no player from his former club approached to greet him, a sign that reaffirms the distance created after his abrupt departure from Manchester.
Garnacho, who entered the field prematurely due to the injury of young Brazilian Estevao, failed to influence the score and continues to lack consistency in London, with only one goal in 22 league matches according to British media data.
Pressure on Garnacho is mounting: Chelsea fans have begun suggesting a possible loan for next season to help the player regain his level. The player, who was born in Spain but decided to play for the Argentine national team, admitted in a previous interview that he felt some regret over his departure from Manchester United: "Maybe yes, because I loved that club."
Before his transfer, the 21-year-old winger had sparked controversy by posting a photo wearing an Aston Villa shirt with Marcus Rashford's name on it, reflecting his differences with then-coach Ruben Amorim and some teammates.
Despite his poor performance in London, the Argentine maintains a special bond with his former club: "From the beginning, in Spain, they gave me the necessary confidence to join the academy, and then they took me to the first team.
It was like four or five years, and we received incredible affection from everyone, from the fans, from the stadium, everything was really good. Sometimes you have to change for the good of your life or to take the next step. I only have good memories of Manchester United," Garnacho shared in the interview that went viral for his statements.
Join The Conversation
Roundtablesports is Free to join! You can post your own thoughts, comment on articles, and start conversations with our Roundtable Writers.
Download the FREE Roundtable APP, and get even easier access to your favorite teams and news!