Garnacho absent from Chelsea pre-season as United eye £4.3m sell-on windfall

Alejandro Garnacho was absent from Chelsea’s opening pre-season training session under new manager Xabi Alonso at Cobham this week, with the club reportedly prepared to sell the 22-year-old winger less than a year after signing him from Manchester United for £40 million.

The Daily Mail reports that Garnacho did not take part in the session and that Chelsea declined to comment on his apparent absence. The club are said to be seeking a permanent sale rather than a loan, with Chelsea understood to be asking for £43 million, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Manchester United retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause from the deal struck last summer, meaning they could receive approximately £4.3 million should Garnacho depart for the full asking price.

Romano has also reported that AS Roma are interested in the player, though early discussions have revealed the Italian club would prefer an initial loan — an arrangement Chelsea are currently unwilling to accept. Garnacho himself is said to be keen on a move to Serie A. Atletico Madrid, Como, Napoli and clubs from the Saudi Pro League have also been linked with an interest in the Argentine.

Garnacho was born in Madrid and left Atletico’s academy for Manchester United in 2020, having previously come through the ranks at Getafe. A return to Spain after six years could therefore carry significant personal appeal.

His debut season at Stamford Bridge yielded eight goals and four assists across 34 appearances in all competitions, though only one of those goals came in the Premier League. Four of his strikes arrived in domestic cup ties against Cardiff City, Port Vale and Wrexham, underlining the limited impact he made at the top level for Chelsea.

Garnacho had been included in Argentina’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup but missed the final cut and was not involved in their pre-tournament preparations. He has not represented his country since November 2024, prior to his move to west London.