Manchester United have finally agreed a deal with Chelsea for the sale of Alejandro Garnacho.
Bittersweet
There will be a sense of relief that United have finally managed to make a significant sale this summer.
It has been clear since the end of May that Garnacho would have no future at the club after he publicly criticised his omission from the starting line up in the Europa League final.
What’s more, his online acts such as posting a picture of himself in an Aston Villa shirt have done little to improve his popularity amongst the fans.
Nonetheless, the Argentine was one of the club’s most consistent performers in the 2023-2024 season and it is always sad to see an academy product leave the side, especially to a rival.
Differing valuations
Chelsea have chased Garnacho all summer but consistently fell below United’s public valuation of £50 million.
Nonetheless, United finally agreed a deal with Chelsea yesterday for the sale of the player for £40 million as a fixed fee.
Fans unsatisfied with fee
The Peoples Person has conducted a poll asking readers “what’s the lowest amount United should accept from Chelsea for Garnacho?”.
46% of fans voted that United should only accept an offer of £50 million or higher.
In a summer where Chelsea themselves have sold Noni Madueke to Arsenal for £52 million and bought Jamie Gittens for £55 million, it is easy to see their argument.
Nonetheless, Garnacho making it clear he only wanted Chelsea and United’s desperation to rid themselves of the player after his falling out with Ruben Amorim has hardly helped their cause.
25% of supporters voted that £40 million would be the lowest they would accept and that is what has finally happened.
13% were even more optimistic that United should have held out for at least £60 million, closer to the £70 million valuation the club set earlier in the summer.
5% of fans also responded that United should not sell to a Premier League rival regardless of the price. Garnacho himself rejected numerous moves aboard to the likes of Bayern Munich, giving United little choice in the matter.
Only 11% happy
Finally, 11% of voters claimed that any price was good, as long as he was out of the club. This is hardly a ringing endorsement of United’s negotiation skills but just desperation to finally rid the club of a player they decided to move on from after months of speculation.
United and Garnacho will likely have the chance to face one another in less than a month when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford on the 20th September.
Featured image Richard Heathcote via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
