Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho has hit back at claims suggesting he has a bad relationship with Lionel Messi due to his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccernet.football reports.
Garnacho, 20 is a rising star in the Argentine national team, often seen as part of the new generation stepping up as Lionel Messi’s career winds down.
Despite limited playing time in the Copa America, Garnacho has integrated well into the squad. He even celebrated Argentina’s second championship win with his teammates, including goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez.
However, rumours began circulating on social media that Garnacho had ignored Messi during the celebrations, hinting at a poor relationship between the two. These claims were spread by fans of Cristiano Ronaldo, who suggested that Garnacho’s admiration for Ronaldo caused friction with Messi.
Garnacho responded decisively to these allegations. A week after Argentina’s victory at the Hard Rock Stadium, he addressed a tweet that claimed there was no chemistry between him and Messi. He countered the claims by posting a photo of himself hugging Messi after the match in Miami, effectively refuting the rumours.
Garnacho is seen as a key player for Argentina’s future, alongside other young talents like Matías Soule, Valentín Carboni, and Nico Paz. While some of these players had limited involvement in the Copa America, Garnacho played a significant role.
Born Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra on 1 July 2004, the youngster joined Manchester United’s youth system from Atlético Madrid in 2020 and has since made a mark, winning the FA Youth Cup and the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2022.
He initially played for Spain at youth levels before switching to Argentina, making his senior debut in June 2023 and contributing to their 2024 Copa América win.