Amorim can follow Ferguson with decision on first Man Utd star out the door

Daily Mirror

23-05-2025

Big calls have been made with Manchester United placing every player on the transfer list after their Europa League final heartbreak. Ruben Amorim failed to salvage his miserable first season in charge as defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao ensured there would be no European football for the Red Devils next season.
And now the autopsy begins with Amorim ready to rip up his underperforming squad, with some unpopular decisions set to be made. That includes potentially cashing in on some of the club's academy graduates, with one perhaps at the front of the queue.
While the defeat to Spurs added a final stamp of misery on their season, Amorim faced further annoyance minutes after the final whistle after Alejandro Garnacho's address to the assembled media in the San Mames Stadium.
The United youth product's comments after the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao is enough to be shown the door quickly by the United hierarchy after making a thinly-veiled dig to his boss so soon after the defeat.
"Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know," said Garnacho. "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."
To make things worse, his brother, Roberto, added fuel to the fire by describing how Alejandro was "thrown under the bus" by the former Sporting coach upon learning he will be on the bench. Now, Amorim has to respond harshly and take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson's book and show Garnacho the door rather than make it look like the Spanish-born Argentine has full control of the situation.
Sir Alex never stuttered when it came to those who dared question him or fall out with him during his tenure as United boss. Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Roy Keane were all stalwarts during their careers at Old Trafford but one wrong step in the manager's eyes and you were gone without a second thought.
It is not like it was an off-the-cuff comment either from the Madrid-born player. Just hours before the final even started, Garnacho posted pictures on his Instagram page celebrating after scoring the opening goal in the FA Cup final last season - which United went on to win against arch-rivals Manchester City. This is not a player who is just assessing his options. This is a player who is clearly controlling the narrative and the sooner that is shut down the better for Amorim if he is to maintain harmony in the dressing room as the season closes.
Garnacho has crossed the line and now he has to face the consequences of this after questioning Amorim in the press. It will be the 40-year-old's first major test going into the summer transfer window as he looks to make a significant impact in the summer for the Red Devils.
He has made the right move with the "back me or sack me" ultimatum (or bluff depending on how you have interpreted it) to the board but now he really needs to make an impact on the dressing room. It is not like the board will be reluctant either. He has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the previous transfer window - with Chelsea (currently at 4/1 to sign the Argentina international) previously rumoured to acquire his services with their ever-growing list of wingers - with the decision-makers at the club willing to listen in the past.
No doubt Sir Jim Ratcliffe is licking his lips at the prospect of a big PSR win when selling the 20-year-old as the minority shareholder seeks a financial boost.
It is a win-win situation for the Portuguese coach as he looks to really make his mark at United with the season set to end. Having previously stated he wanted to join United this summer instead of November last year, the former Benfica midfielder has endured six torrid months with the resources at his disposal with a squad who endured their worst ever Premier League campaign and worst league campaign in almost 50 years
There can be no leeway with this - Amorim needs to act.
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