Ruben Amorim has confirmed that he wants to keep Alejandro Garnacho beyond the January transfer window after being left impressed by the starlet’s shift in attitude. The Manchester United head coach accepts that Garnacho is in the shop window due to the club’s prickly financial position but has made it clear that he features in his plans.
Chelsea and Napoli are at the forefront of transfer links ahead of Monday’s winter deadline, with United reportedly demanding at least £60million to part ways.
But Garnacho’s rejuvenated performances in recent weeks have intensified the reluctance to cash in among supporters attached to the academy graduate.
Amorim immediately threw the 20-year-old’s future into doubt by excluding him from the derby victory at Manchester City on December 15 over perceived attitude issues.
The eye-catching decision raised concerns over whether Garnacho’s play style suited the Portuguese boss’ 3-4-3 system – which uses wing-backs and narrow forwards.
But Amorim has hailed Garnacho for his application and improvement over the past month, claiming he has changed his demeanour since his Etihad Stadium snub.
“I don’t think he is improving because of me. He changed right away since that game against City,” Amorim explained after Garnacho’s impactful substitute cameo in Thursday’s 2-0 win at FCSB.
“The way he understands things and understands that I just want to help him – I just want to win games. He changed in everything – the approach when you talk with him, the way he recovers.
“He understands that sometimes I’m a different coach, that I’m demanding in my way, and sometimes it’s hard because I’m a different kind of coach, a different person.
“But he understands that it’s never in a bad way. It’s always for him. I think all of the merit goes to Garnacho. He’s improving, and we want to continue to improve with him.
“In the game, he understood the position, the moment when to play inside and outside, and the connection with Diogo Dalot; that’s improving a lot, too.”
Amorim added that while academy successes like Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo could be used to raise funds, he wants to rebuild United with both starlets at his disposal.
He said: “That part [United listening to offers] is true, but I want players like Kobbie and Garnacho.
“The focus is that we have to improve our academy and you have to bring more through.
“That is something all the clubs in England have to take advantage of – the players who come from the academy.
“To play, to fill the shirt and also to be able to sell them. So our focus is to bring more through.”
