Alejandro Garnacho has described his time at Manchester United as a 'special chapter' after completing a £40 million transfer to Chelsea. The 20-year-old winger posted an emotional farewell message on Instagram, thanking the club's coaches, staff, and teammates for their support.
Garnacho joined United from Atletico Madrid on a free transfer in September 2020, progressing through the academy and winning the FA Youth Cup before becoming a first-team regular. He scored 26 goals in 144 senior appearances for the club.
However, his relationship with manager Ruben Amorim broke down at the end of last season, leading to his departure. Garnacho was dropped for the Manchester derby in December but was later reintegrated, unlike Marcus Rashford, who was loaned to Aston Villa. Further discipline issues arose when Garnacho questioned Amorim's decision to bench him for the Europa League final against Tottenham.
United included a 10 per cent sell-on fee in the deal, making Garnacho the club's fourth-highest sale. Chelsea initially offered £25 million for the youngster before agreeing to the final fee.
In his farewell, Garnacho wrote: 'Dear Mánchester. After an unforgettable five years, this special chapter in my life now comes to a close. We have created moments that will stay with me forever, and I’m very grateful for this. I leave proud of what we achieved together and excited for what’s to come.'
