Alejandro Garnacho has multiple tattoos depicting Stranger Things – his favourite show. But unlike many of its characters, he is being forced to wait for his coming‑of‑age journey.
The Argentine, 21, is struggling to stand out among the cast at Stamford Bridge, having been linked with a transfer and drawing criticism for a lack of output in attack and switching off defensively.
Garnacho has started only seven of Liam Rosenior’s first 20 games in charge, with opportunities often coming in cup games against lesser opposition such as Pafos, Charlton, Hull City and Wrexham.
So what’s happening with the winger, signed for £40m from Manchester United last summer, and can he still realise his potential at Stamford Bridge?
A new plot in west London
Garnacho simply answered “no” when asked in December whether he had any regrets about the manner of his Manchester United exit, having left under a cloud.
In a recent interview with Premier League Productions, he said he “loved” United, had only good memories of his time there, and reflected on scoring for them in the 2024 FA Cup final success over Manchester City, who visit Chelsea on Sunday.
However, Garnacho also addressed the controversy surrounding his departure.
“I remember that, in the last six months, I was not playing like before at Manchester United,” he said. “I started to be on the bench. It’s not such a bad thing – I was only 20 years old – but in my mind it was like I had to play every game.
“In my mind, maybe it was also on me. I started to do some bad things. But it was just a moment in life and sometimes you have to make decisions. I am really proud to be here [at Chelsea] and still in the Premier League at a club like this.
“About United, I have nothing wrong to say about the club, anyone at the club or my team-mates. It was just a moment that changed and life continues. I have no regrets.”
The controversies he referred to included accusations of ill-discipline, a lack of professionalism and a series of public social media posts by him and his brother. These issues contributed to his exit under former boss Ruben Amorim, with Garnacho running down his contract and securing a move to Chelsea.
Since arriving Stamford Bridge, the forward has repeatedly said he is “happy here”, praising vice‑captain and compatriot Enzo Fernandez as being “like my dad”, having spoken in the same way about United captain Bruno Fernandes.
He has acknowledged the need to improve quietly on the training pitch and has been working in detail on his defensive output.
The door remains open for a late‑season impact, with rival left‑wing option Jamie Gittens sidelined for three months because of recurring hamstring injuries.
And, despite it not being reflected in team selections, boss Rosenior praised Garnacho last month when he said: “He’s got huge ability and potential. For any young player, the biggest thing to be challenged on is consistency.
“But he’s shown really good signs – not just in training, but in meetings – that he’s on a really good track.”
Asked why opposition fans often boo Garnacho, he added: “Maybe it’s because people judge a book by its cover.”
Garnacho told Premier League Productions this week he was aware some people think he is “arrogant” and his bleached blond hair and tattoos attract comments both “good and bad”, but he is just a “normal boy”.
In terms of a mooted move this summer, Chelsea deny any decisions have been made, despite links to a loan stint with Argentine giants River Plate.
That said, Garnacho cost £40m and is not among the club’s highest earners, making him affordable for many European sides, while Chelsea also have plans to add another attacker alongside Sporting’s Geovany Quenda, who was signed in March 2025 to join once this season is over.
It means some of the current squad will inevitably be sold this summer.
‘A lot more to come’
Garnacho’s best moment this term came in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Arsenal, when he struck twice as his side were beaten 3-2, eventually losing the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
He is averaging one goal every 4.6 games – a slight improvement on his return of one every 5.5 games for Manchester United across all competitions.
Eight goals and four assists in 37 appearances this season is a reasonable tally. However, a return of just one strike in 20 Premier League appearances, across 1,122 minutes, while underperforming his expected‑goals figure of 3.11 from 28 shots, paints a less encouraging picture.
Garnacho has also been criticised for switching off at set-pieces and failing to track back when Chelsea conceded in league defeats by Brentford, Bournemouth and West Ham.
Additionally, the Madrid‑born player – part of Argentina’s Copa America‑winning squad in 2024 – has not added to his eight international caps since moving to Stamford Bridge.
Garnacho acknowledges he has yet to reach his peak and added: “There is a lot more to come, this is just the start.
“I joined two months after the rest without pre-season, then you need time to adapt to a different club and a different place.
“Sometimes the first season is harder but I will work very hard in the games we have left.
“I will try to be ready from the start in pre-season because I know what I can do and that’s the most important thing to have the confidence in the player I can be.
“Of course, in football you have to show it and that’s what I have to do.”
Yet the statistics suggest Garnacho is hardly moving forward quickly following the early promise of his Manchester United debut at the age of 17 against Chelsea in 2022.
As with Stranger Things, there is an element of nostalgia to his story. Another one of his tattoos is from another television series, Prison Break – and he is still waiting to feel the freedom to perform and for his talent to truly break out.
