Alejandro Garnacho is set to leave Chelsea this summer after one disappointing season. AS Roma have submitted a structured bid, a €5m loan with a €35m option to buy, to acquire the winger. Manager Xabi Alonso has backed the exit, signaling his willingness to move on from Chelsea's £40m signing from Manchester United last August. Manchester United stand to profit via a 10% sell-on clause from the original deal.
Garnacho's struggles at Chelsea
Alonso's appointment has accelerated discussions that were already underway. Speaking to goal.com, the new manager said: "The situation is we have spoken with the sports directors, and there's an interest in him from other clubs. So let's see how it develops, but hopefully it finishes in the best possible ways for all parties."
Garnacho's performance justifies the decision. At Chelsea, he managed just one Premier League goal across a season that saw the club finish 10th and miss European football entirely. Across all competitions, his 8 goals and 4 assists masked an underlying inconsistency. Over his final five appearances, averaging a 6.6 rating, he delivered nothing when impact mattered most.
Behavioral concerns added to the picture. At Manchester United, Garnacho faced discipline on multiple occasions: dropped from the Manchester derby, storming down the tunnel after being substituted, and friction after the Europa League final. That pattern surfaced at Chelsea, where poor form and temperament combined to convince the club he was not a fit.
Garnacho has since reflected on his decision to leave Manchester United. He initially claimed no regrets, but later admitted the reality: "I loved that club, you know. They gave me the confidence from the start, from Spain, to bring me to the academy, then they brought me to the first team. It was like four or five years, and amazing love from everyone."
Roma's structured offer now sits on the table, with Chelsea believed to be seeking around £42.5m. If a deal progresses, Manchester United will collect their percentage. It is a reminder that the club which developed Garnacho proved the sounder long-term investment, their strong late-season form (four wins and a draw in their final five fixtures) evidence that they have thrived without him.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →