Why Chelsea Should Consider Offloading Flop Winger Alejandro Garnacho to Roma
Alejandro Garnacho’s time in professional football has been marked by numerous ups and downs, particularly in the last couple of seasons. Under the guidance of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, the young Argentine made strides on the pitch, highlighted by memorable moments such as scoring what many deemed the goal of the season against Everton and finding the net in the 2024 FA Cup final, which culminated in a victorious campaign for the Red Devils.
Ten Hag showed considerable faith in Garnacho, securing him with a long-term contract. However, with the managerial shift to Ruben Amorim, it became evident that Garnacho’s position at the club was precarious. Rumors circulated about the reasons behind his demotion to what was referred to as United’s ‘bomb squad,’ suggesting that Amorim did not have Garnacho in his tactical plans.
A transfer to Chelsea seemed like a promising opportunity for both the club and the player, but his tenure at Stamford Bridge has similarly been disappointing. In a total of 43 appearances across all competitions, Garnacho played the full match only four times. His contributions tallied to eight goals and five assists; while they are commendable, they failed to reflect the expectations surrounding his potential.
Despite these numbers aligning somewhat with his performance at Manchester United, doubts concerning his professionalism and attitude lingered. As the 2025/26 season drew to a close and with Xabi Alonso’s appointment as manager, speculation regarding his future at Chelsea intensified. Recent reports indicate that he has not attended pre-season training for the 2026/27 season, further hinting that a departure is imminent.
Italian sources report that Roma’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, is keen on securing Garnacho on loan with an option to purchase, envisioning a collaboration with compatriot Paulo Dybala. Additionally, Diego Moreira from Strasbourg is also on Gasperini’s radar, both being under the ownership of Clearlake Capital.
While it remains uncertain if Clearlake will agree to a loan arrangement for Garnacho, especially preferring a permanent transfer, one must question whether Roma is making a wise decision by targeting the 22-year-old. Analyzing his performances from the past season reveals that only a few players, such as Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, and Joao Pedro, showed better offensive statistics—none of whom can match Garnacho’s unique attribute of achieving two braces, highlighting his ability to score in clusters.
However, Garnacho’s overall stats raise some concerns. He notched 55 shots over the season, trailing behind Joao Pedro’s 72 and Fernandez’s 75. Despite this, he mirrored Neto’s record of fast breaks but failed to capitalize on ten significant goal-scoring chances that could have enhanced his selection prospects.
With only 11 successful crosses from 85 attempts in open play, Garnacho’s crossing accuracy is another Achilles’ heel for the player. Furthermore, while his pass completion rate of 86.44% is respectable, the sheer volume of his attempts lags behind most squad members, suggesting a critical gap in his midfield contributions. His ball recoveries and duel successes tell a similar tale of underwhelming engagement on the pitch.
Notably, Garnacho’s tackle success percentage of 63.33 is misleading when compared to more industrious teammates; for example, Moises Caicedo’s commitment on the field highlights a contrasting work ethic. If Gasperini is to realize the untapped potential in Garnacho, it will require serious adjustments and interventions from the coaching staff.
Should a transfer materialize and Garnacho falter again at Roma, he may need to reassess his ambitions and commitment to football. The reality is hard: one manager may make an error in judgment, two would be a caution, but a third misstep could labor under the ominous shadow of persistent failure.
Jason Pettigrove, a seasoned features writer for Flashscore since 2025, utilizes Opta data extensively for his articles. With a background featuring roles with respected football clubs and media outlets, he remains committed to delivering insightful sports analysis.
