Garnacho posts picture wearing Aston Villa shirt

BBC News

4 hours ago

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has shown his support for team-mate Marcus Rashford by posing in his Aston Villa shirt on holiday. The Argentine posted a picture on his social media on Sunday night of himself wearing Villa's claret & blue home kit with 'Rashford 9' on the back.Rashford, who has two years to run on his United deal, commented: "My brother" on Garnacho's post and accompanied it with a love heart emoji.The England international joined Villa on a six-month loan deal in January after being frozen out at Old Trafford by manager Ruben Amorim.Sources have told BBC Sport that Garnacho's post is merely a supportive one of his team-mate. Nevertheless, Garnacho's future at Old Trafford remains up in the air after Amorim told the 20-year-old in May that he can find a new club this summer.The winger angered Amorim with his comments in the aftermath of United's 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham, which he started on the bench.Speaking after the match, the attacker said: "Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know."The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I'm going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards."Like Garnacho, Rashford's future is likely to be away from Old Trafford.The 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to La Liga club Barcelona and he recently said he would like to play with Spanish winger Lamine Yamal."Yes, for sure, Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully... we'll see," Rashford told Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz. "[It is] difficult to put into words what he is doing. He is not supposed to be doing that at 16-17 [years of age]. We have not seen that before. It is a skill to be able to play at that age with that mentality."
'Rashford and Garnacho are kindred spirits'
Garnacho and Rashford are kindred spirits in a way.Both are hugely talented players who have been deemed surplus to requirements by Amorim and the belief is the initial post – and response – are a way of offering public support in a period of time where they are both looking for other clubs.Chelsea are admirers of Garnacho but it remains to be seen whether their pursuit of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund closes off that avenue out of Old Trafford.There are rumours of the 20-year-old returning to his former club Atletico Madrid this summer and there will be other suitors.However, Garnacho's post does not come without fall-out.Firstly, what effect will it have on the fee United can command for a player who has made such a provocative gesture?Secondly, it hardly seems plausible Amorim will bring Garnacho back into the first-team fold when his squad return to training in July, let alone consider him for the three-match trip to the United States at the end of the month.