Alejandro Garnacho makes Manchester United admission as Aston Villa transfer confirmed

Former Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho has joined Aston Villa on loan having only joined Chelsea last summer.

Alejandro Garnacho hopes to rediscover his Manchester United form at Aston Villa after the winger agreed to leave Chelsea on loan. The 22-year-old left Old Trafford under a cloud last summer after off-the-pitch issues forced the club to cut ties.

Garnacho was criticised for posting a picture of himself in a Villa shirt with Marcus Rashford’s name on the back online, while he also criticised the team and Ruben Amorim after the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. Chelsea approached United with a £40m offer and the Reds were happy to accept.

Garnacho’s time at Stamford Bridge has not gone to plan. He made just 24 Premier League appearances last season, scoring once and providing four assists. He was an unused substitute when Chelsea visited Old Trafford early in the season and was jeered by supporters as he walked along the touchline.

Xabi Alonso arrived at Chelsea this summer and immediately decided to let Garnacho leave. Villa have now signed the Argentinian on loan and the deal includes a conditional obligation to buy, which is considered to be easily achievable. Upon his arrival at Villa Park, Garnacho said he believes Unai Emery can help him return to his best.

“I’m really happy to be here,” he told Villa TV. “I can’t wait to start on the pitch. It’s an important club that is growing really quickly, so I can’t wait to get started.

“I was looking for a club to get confidence at, and to try to be the player I was in my first years at Manchester United. I spoke with the manager and I think he will give me the confidence to be here and to help the team. I spoke with Unai before I came here and he gave me confidence. That’s why I’m here.”

Garnacho broke into the United first team at the end of the 2021/22 season after a string of impressive displays in the FA Youth Cup. His best goal tally so far came in 2023/24 when he scored ten in all competitions, seven of which came in the Premier League.

In April, Garnacho reflected on his United exit. He told Sky Sports: “Maybe (I regret my exit) yes, because I loved that club. They gave me the confidence from the start.

“I remember in the last six months I was just not playing like before at Manchester United. I started to be on the bench, it’s not a bad thing.

“I was only 20 years old, but in my mind it was like I had to play every game. In my mind, maybe it is also on me, I started to do some bad things.

“Sometimes, we have better moments or worse moments. I am proud to be here (at Chelsea) but with United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, no one in the club or the teammates. It’s just a moment in life that changes and life continues. I have no regrets.”