'I managed Alejandro Garnacho - his attitude was a disgrace and Chelsea are paying the price' | OneFootball

Argentine youngster has struggled for form after being bombed out by Manchester United

The young Argentine is facing questions over his future in west London, just months after joining from Man United in a deal worth around £40million.

Garnacho was bombed out of Old Trafford by Ruben Amorim due to reported concerns with the player's attitude, leading the way for his move to the capital.

But the 21-year-old has failed to impress under both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, having scored just one Premier League goal - which came in October - in 22 appearances.

And Nicky Butt, who was in charge of Manchester United's academy when Garnacho joined as a 16-year-old, says the signs were there early that the confident youngster could prove a problem.

The best thing Man United did was sell him ... I thought his attitude was a disgrace

Nicky Butt

"He signed at 16," Butt told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. "I was academy manager at the time and he signed in a deal where they also signed Alvaro [Fernandez]. Garnacho was always a bit stand-off-ish; he had a high opinion of himself.

"I thought he had an edge about him. And when he got into the first team, I will just say what I think because I was there, he got above his station way too quick. He got superstar status way too quick.

"And that's not a former player saying they get paid too much, I hope young players get paid millions, but he got superstar status too quick and he obviously scored the bicycle kick which was phenomenal.

"Someone in that club or team at the time should have been swatting him down, and they might have been, and he ignored them. But the best thing Man United did was sell him because, forget his ability, and I don't think he is that great anyway, but I thought his attitude was a disgrace when he was at Man United.

"More importantly, when he left, and if you completely disrespect your team-mates and the football club when you leave, then that's it."

Butt suggested that Garnacho's attitude was such a concern at United that in squads gone by he would have been targeted by his team-mates during training - and likely benefitted from it.

Alejandro Garnacho

PA

The former midfielder continued: "It is common knowledge that [Amorim] told him on the final game of the season that he can go find a new club.

"If he had been in our team then he would have been taken out every single day in training with the players we were brought up with.

"He would have been treated really badly, he'd have learned from that and got better."

Butt continued: "He was 21 or whatever when he left the club but you can't be up your own backside thinking you are as big or bigger than Man United.

"In an interview recently, I watched it and he said 'I thought I should have played every game'. I was thinking: 'number one, you weren't even that good and, number two, you are young, be humble’.

"What I would say is that he was very mentally strong … that's his biggest strength and that is why every now and again he will do something unbelievable. He has massive belief in himself."