Alejandro Garnacho’s stint at Manchester United was marked by inconsistency, but one constant was his unique bond with club captain Bruno Fernandes, who acted as a mentor to the young player. From scoring award-winning goals and hoisting the Carabao and FA Cup, to being exiled from the first team under United boss Ruben Amorim, Garnacho experienced some extreme highs and lows for the Red Devils. After signing from Atletico Madrid for a mere £420,000 in October 2020, United sold the 21-year-old to Chelsea this summer for £40million.
The Argentinian had a turbulent final few months at Old Trafford due to a series of behavioural issues. A breakdown in relations between player and club reached a climax after the winger publicly criticised Amorim’s decision to bench him for the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in May. Despite struggling under United managers Erik ten Hag, and later Amorim, Garnacho’s relationship with Fernandes was crucial. The pair spent three seasons together, with Fernandes often seen as a sort of footballing father figure to the fiery youngster.
Fernandes expects ‘a lot’
In November 2023, Garnacho netted a spectacular opener during United’s 3-0 win at Everton, delivering a breathtaking overhead kick that subsequently claimed FIFA’s Puskas award.
Following the game, Fernandes was cautious not to heap excessive praise upon the youngster and, rather, concentrated on ensuring the Argentine remained grounded after his most significant moment in a United jersey to date.
“He’s not a great player yet but he has a great future ahead,” Fernandes said of Garnacho on Sky Sports. “We expect a lot from him, he knows that. He knows I am always going to be behind him asking for more, but obviously it was an amazing goal.”
Garnacho’s selective hearing
Following Fernandes’ assist to Garnacho, then 18, against Wolves in May 2023, the United skipper acknowledged he was attempting to help develop his team-mate, though the youngster’s tendency to only heed advice when it suited him was proving problematic.
“What I have to say to Garnacho, I say to him at the training ground, whenever we are eating, on the training ground, wherever. If he wants to hear, he hears,” Fernandes said.
“If not, he doesn’t, but I try to help. I think he did an interview talking about me trying to help him a lot of times, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Bad attitude claim
Garnacho failed to feature in any of United’s four pre-season matches in Thailand and Australia during the summer of 2022 and was chastised by former boss Ten Hag for arriving late to team sessions on multiple occasions.
Following Garnacho’s goal in a Europa League fixture in November 2022, Fernandes admitted that his younger colleague’s approach was hindering his progress at the beginning of that season.
“At the beginning of the season he was not at his best,” he said.”In the [pre-season] tour he didn’t have the best attitude that he should have, and that’s why he didn’t get his chances until now. He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, he’s got a different attitude and he’s deserving his chances.”
Garnacho’s farewell post
Whilst Garnacho may have departed for Stamford Bridge amid some controversy, he ensured he acknowledged his former skipper on social media after leaving Old Trafford.
In a message that revealed just how important Fernandes’ mentorship was to him, the now-Chelsea winger posted: “Thanks for everything you did for me, I love you [kiss emoji],” alongside a photograph from United’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Galatasaray in November 2023. In a thoughtful gesture, the message also celebrated Fernandes’ 31st birthday.
Garnacho is now set to make his Chelsea debut on Saturday evening against Brentford at the G-tech Community Stadium. Meanwhile, Fernandes will continue to lead Amorim’s efforts to revive his struggling United side, confident that he did everything possible to foster Garnacho’s talent, even if his calls for professionalism didn’t have the desired impact.