BILBAO — Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has cast serious doubt over his future at Old Trafford following his surprising omission from the starting lineup in the club’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Garnacho, 20, had been a regular fixture in United’s European campaign, starting in every knockout round leading to the final. But in Wednesday’s narrow 1-0 loss in Bilbao, manager Ruben Amorim opted to start Mason Mount instead, introducing Garnacho only in the 71st minute with United chasing the game.
“Until we reached the final, I played every round. And I played 20 minutes today… I don’t know,” Garnacho told reporters post-match. “We didn’t beat anyone in the league. We lacked a lot of things. When you don’t score goals, you always need more.”
The loss capped a disastrous season for United, who currently sit 16th in the Premier League with one game remaining and are now set to miss out on European football entirely next season.
Garnacho’s frustration adds to growing speculation around his future. The Argentine winger was previously linked with Napoli and Chelsea during the January transfer window after being left out of the squad to face Manchester City in December — another controversial decision by Amorim.
When asked if the final would influence his next move, Garnacho didn’t hold back. “The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club [will too],” he said. “I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Garnacho’s brother, Roberto, took to social media to voice his displeasure, claiming the United winger had been “thrown under the bus.”
Amorim, under intense scrutiny after overseeing one of United’s worst seasons in the Premier League era, defended his decision. He pointed to Mount’s decisive contributions off the bench in the semi-final against Athletic Bilbao, where the midfielder scored twice to help secure United’s place in the final.
“How many times have we had this conversation, and it was the opposite?” Amorim asked. “Some players come in, like Mason Mount, against Bilbao and changed the game. Who missed the big opportunity in the first half against Bilbao? Yeah — Garnacho.”
While Amorim sought to justify his selection based on form and tactics, Garnacho’s comments suggest deeper tensions, raising serious questions about whether the talented winger will be part of United’s rebuilding efforts — or seek a fresh start elsewhere.
With the summer transfer window approaching and pressure mounting at Old Trafford, Garnacho’s future now hangs in the balance.