Reds' tearless reunion with once-loved ace

ALEJANDRO Garnacho's brother was sitting in the Old Trafford directors' box and burst into tears when his sibling crossed the white line for his Manchester United debut against Chelsea in April 2022. No tears were shed over Garnacho's departure to Chelsea.

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Garnacho and his on-off girlfriend, Eva Garcia, made several trips to London throughout last season. One of Garnacho's agents, Enrique de Lucas, played for Chelsea and De Lucas and Carlos Cambeiro were at Stamford Bridge in January.

Come his final participation as a United player in Hong Kong, Garnacho was sullen and contemptuous of the postseason tour. He fulfilled the post-match meet-and-greet commitment at Hong Kong Stadium but Garnacho never broke into a smile for the selfies.

He looked happier to be away from the club, revelling in the attention from a paparazzo in Hale in July. At Carrington, Garnacho was persona non grata, albeit not the only one as a member of the five-man bomb squad.

Although Garnacho was in the United academy from the age of 16, he never seemed likely to be a one-club man, having arrived from Madrid. His association with United ultimately lasted less than five eventful years, beginning with a period of quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Back at Old Trafford with new club Chelsea on Saturday, Garnacho vacated his Cheshire mansion earlier in the year but was still forking out for the rent while he resided in downsized accommodation. United were keen to stress at the time that Garnacho's change of residence was unrelated to a future transfer and that his parents and brother had returned to Spain.

Another move was inevitable when Garnacho was omitted from the Europa League final starting XI. He should have seen it coming. Ruben Amorim used the Friday night fixture away to Chelsea as a dress rehearsal, with Mason Mount starting and Garnacho on the bench.

Garnacho naively thought nothing of it. He had his hair bleached for the showpiece in Bilbao. At San Mames stadium, a disconsolate Garnacho was the only United player on the pitch when the teams were announced. He distracted himself by catching up with former teammate Sergio Reguilon.