By Chris Burns

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Alejandro Garnacho’s time at Manchester United was marked by inconsistency, but his unique bond with club captain Bruno Fernandes remained a constant. Fernandes acted as a mentor to the young player, guiding him through challenging times. Garnacho experienced both highs and lows during his time with the Red Devils, from scoring award-winning goals and lifting the Carabao and FA Cup , to being sidelined from the first team under United boss Ruben Amorim. Having signed from Atletico Madrid for a mere £420,000 in October 2020, United sold the 21-year-old to Chelsea this summer for a staggering £40million. The Argentinian’s final months at Old Trafford were tumultuous due to a series of behavioural issues. A breakdown in relations between the player and the club reached a head when Garnacho publicly questioned Amorim’s decision to bench him for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur in May. Despite struggling under United managers Erik ten Hag, and later Amorim, Garnacho’s relationship with Fernandes proved crucial. The pair spent three seasons together, with Fernandes often seen as a footballing father figure to the hot-headed youngster, reports the Mirror . In November 2023, Garnacho netted a spectacular opener in United’s 3-0 victory at Everton, delivering a breathtaking overhead kick that subsequently claimed FIFA’s Puskas award. Following the game, Fernandes was deliberate in not heaping excessive praise upon the youngster and, rather, concentrated on ensuring the Argentine remained grounded after his most significant moment in a United jersey to date. “He’s not a great player yet but he has a great future ahead,” Fernandes said of Garnacho on Sky Sports. “We expect a lot from him, he knows that. He knows I am always going to be behind him asking for more, but obviously it was an amazing goal.” Following Fernandes’ assist to Garnacho, then 18, against Wolves in May 2023, the United skipper acknowledged he was attempting to guide his teammate’s development, though the youngster’s tendency to heed advice only when it suited him was proving problematic. “What I have to say to Garnacho, I say to him at the training ground, whenever we are eating, on the training ground, wherever. If he wants to hear, he hears,” Fernandes candidly said. “If not, he doesn’t, but I try to help. I think he did an interview talking about me trying to help him a lot of times, and that’s what I’m trying to do.” Garnacho failed to feature in any of United’s four pre-season friendlies across Thailand and Australia during summer 2022 and received criticism from former boss Ten Hag for tardiness to squad activities on multiple occasions. Following Garnacho’s goal in a Europa League fixture in November 2022, Fernandes acknowledged that his younger colleague’s approach was hindering his progress early in that campaign. He said: “At the beginning of the season he was not at his best. “In the [pre-season] tour he didn’t have the best attitude that he should have, and that’s why he didn’t get his chances until now. He’s getting his chances because he’s training better, he’s got a different attitude and he’s deserving his chances.” Whilst Garnacho may have departed for Stamford Bridge amid controversy, he ensured he acknowledged his former skipper on social media following his Old Trafford exit. Through a message that highlighted just how important Fernandes’ mentorship had been to him, the now-Chelsea winger wrote: “Thanks for everything you did for me, I love you [kiss emoji],” alongside a photograph from United’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Galatasaray in November 2023. In a thoughtful gesture, the message also acknowledged Fernandes’ 31st birthday. Garnacho could now make his Chelsea debut on Saturday evening against Brentford at the G-tech Community Stadium. Meanwhile, Fernandes will continue to lead Amorim’s efforts to revive his struggling United side, confident that he did everything possible to foster Garnacho’s talent, even if his calls for professionalism didn’t always have the desired impact.