Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has raised uncertainty over his future at the club following limited involvement in the team’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 20-year-old Argentine, who had played a key role throughout the tournament, was surprisingly benched for the final in Bilbao, only featuring for the last 19 minutes in the 1-0 loss. Garnacho later expressed frustration over the decision, saying he had played every round to help the team and was unsure why he was only given 20 minutes in the final.
The decision by manager Ruben Amorim to start Mason Mount over Garnacho drew criticism, not just from fans but also from the player’s family.
Garnacho’s brother, Roberto, claimed on Instagram that the winger had been treated unfairly, arguing that despite working hard and delivering in previous finals, he was only given a brief appearance and was being scapegoated.
Social media posts by the winger hours before kickoff, including images of past triumphs, further signaled his displeasure upon learning he would not start.
Amorim defended his decision by highlighting past instances where late substitutions, such as Mount’s against Athletic Bilbao, had changed games.
He also pointed to Garnacho’s missed opportunity in the semi-final as a factor in his decision, suggesting it was easy in hindsight to criticize the team selection. He questioned whether Garnacho’s earlier miss had influenced perceptions of his performance.
The defeat to Tottenham not only ended United’s hopes of a trophy but also confirmed the club will miss out on European football next season—the first time since 2014-15.
Defender Luke Shaw admitted that the team’s performance had fallen below expectations and stressed that all players, including himself, needed to evaluate whether they were good enough to be at the club. He described the season as unacceptable for an institution like Manchester United.
Captain Bruno Fernandes also hinted at a possible departure, indicating that if the club decided it was time to part ways to generate funds, he would accept that reality.
He reiterated his commitment to the club but acknowledged that football often involves such decisions, and he would respect the club’s stance if they deemed it necessary to move on.
