Has Alejandro Garnacho Destroyed His Reputation?

There was a time when Alejandro Garnacho was the most exciting name on Manchester United fans’ lips. A raw but fearless teenager who tore down the left flank like a young Cristiano Ronaldo, his idol. He breathed new life into a team that had lacked quality on the wings. He wasn’t just a talent. He felt like the future. 

But fast-forward to this summer. Garnacho’s name no longer has that same optimism. Instead, his Instagram feed has become the battleground for criticism and growing frustration. All of a sudden, the question isn’t about how high he can fly, it’s whether he’s already burning the bridges that got him here.

From Rising Star To Social Media Storm

Garnacho’s rise in 2022-23 was electric. An 18-year-old Argentine Ronaldo fanboy, scoring late winners, making highlight reels with every touch, and bagging goal-of-the-season contenders. There was a fearlessness to him that made it hard not to love. He played like someone who’s been doing this for a while at this level.

But that same boldness has started to feel like something else. Immaturity, ego, maybe even arrogance. This summer, while fans were still digesting a horrible half-season under Ruben Amorim, Garnacho posted a picture of himself walking into a luxury villa in Ibiza. That’s fine, players unwind. But the issue wasn’t the villa, it was the shirt. Garnacho wore an Aston Villa jersey with Marcus Rashford’s name on the back. To make matters worse, Rashford replied to the post, calling him “My brother.”

On the surface, it may seem like harmless banter between friends, but context matters. Rashford is on his way out after a torrid season both on and off the pitch. Garnacho, too, had reportedly been told by Amorim to “find a new club” right after the Europa League final. The post came off as a deliberate two-finger salute to Manchester United. More of a “We don’t need you” than a vacation photo. Fans, understandably, felt insulted.

It didn’t take long for Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to explode. “Petulant,” “childish,” and “he’s not serious” were just a few of the recurring phrases. Many questioned whether he’d let the fame get to his head. For a player still trying to establish himself, flaunting a lifestyle funded by the club while seemingly mocking it isn’t a great look.

A Pattern That’s Hard To Ignore

Unfortunately, this wasn’t a one-off. Garnacho’s history with social media has been shaky from the beginning. From using gorilla emojis on a post about teammate Andre Onana (which, though defended as innocent, was clearly tone-deaf), to liking anti-Ten Hag posts during the worst phases of United’s season. Garnacho has consistently found himself on the wrong side of public opinion. When it wasn’t him, it was his teenage brother Roberto who has taken to social media like a PR nightmare on speed dial, posting cryptic digs at managers and ranting after losses like he’s the player’s agent.

Then came the Europa League final. Garnacho wasn’t in the starting eleven. He didn’t take it well. His post-match interview was filled with cold shrugs, and his brother once again took to Instagram to slam Amorim for “throwing him under the bus.” The next day, Amorim reportedly told Garnacho in front of the squad, “You better pray another club wants you.” These aren’t just young players’ growing pains. They’re becoming a pattern, a damaging one.

Too Much Too Soon?

This is where it gets complicated. Garnacho is 20. At that age, most of us were still figuring life out. And yes, when you’re given money, fame, and power at a young age, it’s easy to get swept up. But football, especially at the elite level, is unforgiving. Reputations, once lost, are hard to win back, especially in football. 

Garnacho is still very talented. 11 goals and 10 assists last season are nothing to scoff at. He was electric in moments, scored in the FA Cup final, and gave fans reasons to believe. But his off-field behavior has started to overshadow his performances. When clubs pay upwards of £60 million for a player, they buy more than talent—they buy professionalism, discipline, and reliability. That’s where things get dicey.

His role model? Cristiano Ronaldo. At least, that’s the image Garnacho has shown, considering the goal celebrations and posting throwback tributes. However, Ronaldo worked harder than anyone else. He didn’t throw tantrums when benched at 20. He didn’t undermine coaches publicly or let his brother post weird comments on Instagram. If Garnacho wants to follow in those footsteps, it’s time he starts acting like it.

Is It Too Late?

The answer, thankfully, is no, not yet. Garnacho is still young and learning. Moving away from Manchester United might be the reset he needs, whether it’s Chelsea, a club on the rise like Napoli, where he would learn to behave under Conte.  But the leash will be shorter. Another outburst, another social media controversy, and the narrative might be set in stone, too talented for his good.

We’ve seen it happen with so many players, including Ravel Morrison, who is a fitting example of how attitude can overshadow talent, all in the wrong ways. Football has seen this story before: a flashy winger bursts onto the scene, lets fame get ahead of development, bounces from club to club, and eventually becomes a cautionary tale. Garnacho can be more than that, but he needs to decide quickly which road he wants to take.