Garnacho, The First Victim of Manchester United's Squad Collapse

MANCHESTER, SATURDAY — Just a few days after losing in the Europa League final, Manchester United has already shown the domino effect of that failure. Talented winger Alejandro Garnacho has been allowed to leave due to financial factors and internal conflicts.

Head Coach of MU, Ruben Amorim, made an important announcement one day before the final match of the season, Saturday (24/5/2025) WIB. He informed about the plans for the upcoming season, including his intention to remain despite the poor results across all competitions this season.

MU management did not rush to fire Amorim after the defeat in the Europa League final and the certainty of finishing at the bottom of the Premier League. Instead of leaving, according to The Athletic, Amorim actually allowed Garnacho to find a new team next summer.

All of this is a consequence of the defeat in the final match last Thursday. After being defeated by Tottenham Hotspur, Garnacho expressed his disappointment regarding the coach's decision. He hoped to start the match but was only brought on as a substitute in the 71st minute.

"I have always supported the team in every round up to the final. Today I only played for 20 minutes. This final will influence (my decision), including the results throughout the season. I will enjoy the summer and see what will happen next," said Garnacho after the match.

It is only natural for Garnacho to feel disappointed. He has consistently played as a starter and has played an important role since the round of 16. However, the position of the second highest scorer in the MU squad (11 goals) has instead been awarded to Amad Diallo and Mason Mount, who has recently recovered from injury.

Amorim and Garnacho's relationship is again problematic. Previously, in December 2024, the coach had removed Garnacho and Marcus Rashford from the main squad. The reason was that they did not meet the standards in training and matches, and damaged the squad's chemistry.

Unlike Rashford, Amorim gave Garnacho a second chance. When Rashford was loaned to Aston Villa during the January transfer window, Garnacho was returned to the main squad. The 20-year-old forward even became a key choice for the "Red Devils" in the second half of the season.

Amorim seems unlikely to hold Garnacho back any longer. This is because MU is also in need of fresh funds after failing to qualify for the Champions League next season. As a result of losing a significant potential income, they must sell several players during the summer.

Garnacho, who has a market value of 45 million euros (Rp 782 billion), has been monitored by many clubs since the last transfer window. From Chelsea to Napoli, they admire his talent. The selling price of the player has the potential to be higher than the market value due to his very young age.

The potential of the Argentine national team player is immense, despite the finishing that is still far from expectations. Since joining MU in 2020 from the Atletico Madrid academy, he has made 144 appearances and has scored 26 goals and provided 22 assists.

Specifically for this season, Garnacho has appeared 58 times. No other "Red Devils" player has exceeded that number. He has also played in 36 out of 37 matches in the Premier League. His contributions are significant for a player who will turn 21 on July 1.

Garnacho is just the beginning of a massive exodus from MU this summer. Many other players are reported to be following suit soon. Team captain Bruno Fernandes, for instance, is being approached by the Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.

When asked about the future of Garnacho and Fernandes at the pre-match conference ahead of the final match, Amorim did not comment much. "I will speak to the players soon, but my focus right now is on our final match. I do not know what will happen after that," he stated.

"We have a plan. We are ready to face any situation, with or without the Champions League. We have a vision of the type of squad we want. Now we must focus on the last match. We have time to address the situation," Amorim continued.

In addition to the current squad, MU can also obtain fresh funds from players who are on loan, such as Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa) and Antony (Real Betis). Coincidentally, both have performed very impressively during their loan periods, unlike when they were with the Red Devils.

The strategy of selling players is in line with the plans for acquisitions. As is known, the current squad of MU does not consist of players selected by Amorim. The coach requires new players who are suitable to perform in his reliable system, which is a three-defender formation. (AP/REUTERS)