Garnacho Reveals His True Feelings About Potential Cristiano Ronaldo Return to Man United
Alejandro Garnacho has turned down approaches from Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, despite the opportunity to play alongside his boyhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo, according to several media reports.
The Argentine winger stands among the rare players who have shared the pitch with both Lionel Messi and his eternal rival Ronaldo. While Garnacho has consistently praised his fellow countryman's exceptional abilities, it's evident that he idolized the Portuguese icon during his formative years at Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Following his debut start with Ronaldo in a Europa League group match against FC Sheriff three seasons ago, Garnacho expressed his disbelief on social platforms: "I don't know if it's real or if I'm dreaming."
After executing a spectacular overhead kick reminiscent of Ronaldo's style against Everton and mimicking his hero's famous 'siu' celebration, Garnacho drew playful teasing from Bruno Fernandes. "He's probably been watching too many Cristiano highlights!" the United captain remarked with amusement. "Everyone knows he's a massive admirer."
This respect flows in both directions. Ronaldo's son, Cristiano Jr., has been spotted wearing a United jersey bearing Garnacho's name.
Nevertheless, this admiration wasn't enough to convince Garnacho to follow Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia this transfer window, according to Mike McGrath from The Telegraph. United's dynamic winger allegedly held "preliminary talks" with Al Nassr before declining the Saudi club's offer.
This doesn't indicate that Garnacho is committed to remaining at Old Trafford. Following United's Europa League final loss, where the Argentine mostly remained on the substitutes' bench, Garnacho expressed openness to a summer departure. Ruben Amorim reportedly shared similar views and allegedly told his unpredictable attacker to seek new opportunities in front of the entire team.
Nevertheless, Garnacho's "definite" transfer strategy still centers on joining another English Premier League side, as Fabrizio Romano confirmed. The 21-year-old dropped an obvious clue about his intentions by sharing an image of himself in Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa jersey.
Similar to Garnacho, Rashford continues as a Manchester United player but is actively pursuing an exit. The English forward, unlike his current colleague, would consider leaving the Premier League to fulfill his ambition of joining Barcelona.