Alejandro Garnacho has ignited fresh doubts about his future at Manchester United after he was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
United’s miserable season hit another low point with a 1-0 loss in Bilbao on Wednesday — a result that ensured the club will not feature in any European competition next season. With just one league fixture remaining, the team sits an unthinkable 16th in the Premier League table.
Garnacho, 20, had been a consistent presence throughout United’s European campaign, starting in every knockout fixture leading to the final. But when it mattered most, manager Ruben Amorim chose to start Mason Mount, relegating the Argentine winger to the bench. Garnacho was introduced late in the game as United chased an equaliser.
“Until we reached the final, I played every round. And I played 20 minutes today… I don’t know,” Garnacho told reporters, expressing clear frustration.
He didn’t shy away from pointing out the team’s broader failings this season: “We didn’t beat anyone in the league. We lacked a lot of things. When you don’t score goals, you always need more.”
Garnacho had previously faced uncertainty over his role in the team, notably being dropped from the squad during a clash with Manchester City in December. That episode triggered transfer rumours in January, with Napoli and Chelsea both reportedly showing interest.
Now, in the wake of the final, his comments suggest he may once again be weighing his options.
“The final will influence (my decision) but the whole season, the situation of the club (will too),” he said. “I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards.”
Tensions around the decision not to start Garnacho spilled over onto social media, where his brother Roberto criticized the club’s handling of the situation, saying he had been “thrown under the bus.”
Amorim, defending his team selection, pointed to Mount’s pivotal role in the previous round.
“How many times have we had this conversation, and it was the opposite? Some players come in, like Mason Mount, against Bilbao and changed the game,” Amorim said.
He also highlighted a missed opportunity by Garnacho in that same semi-final clash: “Who missed the big opportunity in the first half against Bilbao? Yeah (Garnacho). Of course, now it is easy for us to talk about a lot of views.”
As the season winds down, Garnacho’s future at Old Trafford is far from certain — and all eyes will be on what decision he makes in the months ahead.
