Alejandro Garnacho got a surprise call from Argentina’s head coach shortly after stepping onto the pitch for his Chelsea debut.
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The 21-year-old winger came off the bench in Saturday’s clash with Brentford, showing flashes of brilliance in attack and helping set up Moises Caicedo’s goal. ..Continue Reading
However, his defensive lapse allowed Fabio Carvalho to sneak in and score a late equalizer, dampening an otherwise promising performance.
Following a rocky exit from Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, Garnacho now finds himself eager to make a fresh impression both at Stamford Bridge and on the international stage ahead of the World Cup.
Last weekend, he spoke privately with the Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and asked: “Is there room for me?”
Scaloni replied: “Yes, but keep in mind you’re starting from behind. You’ll have to prove a lot to return to the National Team.”
Garnacho’s journey with the Argentina national team has been a stop-start affair over the past few years.
He earned his first senior call-up in March 2022 for a pair of friendlies but remained unused. A year later, he was recalled but had to pull out due to an ankle injury.
His long-awaited debut came in June 2023, when he featured off the bench in a friendly against Australia.
Garnacho was then included in Argentina’s 26-man squad for the triumphant 2024 Copa America campaign, though his involvement was minimal—limited to a single group-stage appearance.
His most recent outing for the national team came in November 2024, during a World Cup qualifier loss to Paraguay.
On the club front, the past year has been turbulent. After being dropped by manager Ruben Amorim for the Manchester derby in December, Garnacho returned to regular action and played a key role in United’s Europa League run.
However, tensions resurfaced when he was given just 19 minutes in the final against Tottenham, prompting public frustration and ultimately leading to his departure.
Despite questions surrounding his temperament, Garnacho’s ability is unquestionable. With 144 appearances for Manchester United under his belt, Chelsea’s £40 million investment looks justified.
He’s poised to make his Champions League debut for the Blues against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, and a reunion with Amorim looms on Saturday when Chelsea face Manchester United.
Beyond club ambitions, Garnacho will also be eyeing a spot in Argentina’s squad for next summer’s World Cup—likely the final international tournament for Lionel Messi.