Garnacho joins Chelsea after Maresca call, minutes limited

Alejandro Garnacho said a video call with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca convinced him to leave Manchester United and join the London club in August for a fee reported at about 40 million. The 21 year old moved after a tense end to his United spell, and has so far been used sparingly by Chelsea as the club manages his fitness and integrates him into a crowded forward line.

Garnacho told Chelsea’s matchday programme that Maresca outlined the club’s style of play and that the conversation helped him decide to move. He described the transfer as an opportunity to improve, adding that he was happy to be playing in England and that the pace and passion of the Premier League suited him. He scored his first goal for Chelsea in a recent 2-1 win over Sunderland.

The transfer followed a public rift at Manchester United after Garnacho was given only a late cameo in United’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in May. United manager Ruben Amorim subsequently made clear the winger was not in his long-term plans, and Garnacho was separated from the first-team group for periods over the summer, including being kept away from the training ground while the rest of the squad trained. Those...