Alejandro Garnacho makes Man Utd exit admission after 'step forward' to Chelsea

Alejandro Garnacho joined Chelsea in a £40m deal in August (Picture: CameraSport via Getty)

Alejandro Garnacho has admitted that it was an ‘easy decision’ to swap Manchester United for Chelsea in the summer transfer window.

Garnacho joined Chelsea for £40m in August, a move which the 21-year-old Argentina international has described as a ‘step forward’ in his career.

The winger had spent his entire senior career with United before his arrival at Stamford Bridge, conjuring up 26 goals and 22 assists in 144 matches.

But after falling out of favour under United head coach Ruben Amorim , the Red Devils allowed Chelsea to recruit Garnacho, with the Argentine signing a long-term deal with the west London club that runs through to 2032.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash against Atalanta, Garnacho has opened up about his United exit and told reporters that he had no regrets over leaving the club and was not sad about how it ended.

Garnacho was then quizzed about joining Chelsea and said: ‘I came here to play my football, to show people the player I am.

‘Sometimes in life, you have to change things to maybe take a step forward or to improve as a player.

Alejandro Garnacho says his move to Chelsea was a ‘step forward’ (Picture: Getty)

‘It was the right moment, and also the right club, so it was an easy decision.’

Garnacho, who has produced two goals and two assists across 14 games for Chelsea to date, added: ‘The most important thing is confidence.

‘He (Enzo Maresca) speaks with me every week. We are going to get better, me as a player and the team together, with time.

Alejandro Garnacho says it was an ‘easy decision’ to leave Man Utd (Picture: Getty)

‘We started the season three months ago so it’s building confidence.’

Former Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips has played down talk of the Blues’ move for Garnacho being a ‘mistake’ – but he is concerned that players such as the Argentine, and teammate Jamie Gittens, are going to get crowded out because of the abundance of wingers in the squad.

‘I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a mistake, because he’s clearly a good player,’ Wright-Phillips told BestBettingSites about Garnacho in November.

‘I think Chelsea’s problem is that they have about seven or eight wingers now. They’re all good enough to get into other Premier League sides, but they need minutes on the pitch. They need games. I remember that I was always better if I was playing more regularly.

‘I just grew into every occasion. I think some of those wingers, it could be similar. They need to be on the pitch regularly to be at their best. I think Jamie Gittens seems like one of those players who needs their confidence high, and he works off his instincts.