Alejandro Garnacho Offered Escape Route From Aston Villa Nightmare
Alejandro Garnacho Offered Escape Route From Aston Villa Nightmare
It has been an underwhelming start to life at Aston Villa for Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine signed on loan from Chelsea in the summer, with an obligation to buy for £43m if certain ‘easily achievable’ conditions are met.
However, his situation is already drawing comparisons to Harvey Elliott, who signed a similar sort of deal for the same club in 2025. The midfielder ended up playing just nine times for the Premier League side across an entire season because Unai Emery did not want to trigger a permanent transfer.
Garnacho has played just three times for his new side, all in the league, for a total of 31 minutes. He has been left on the bench for the last four games in all competitions.
Emery Explains Garnacho Low in Villa Pecking Order
It took until January before Emery opened up about the truth behind Elliott’s issues last term. He explained to the press that Villa had made up their minds that he wasn’t worth signing:
“The problem we have with Harvey is that this year he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him. We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to sign him.
“This is the only issue. He is training every day, always every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions. “This is not something good for him and good for us, but this is football and sometimes we must take some decisions which are not good for everyone.”
Emery has yet to be quite so blunt about Garnacho, but it feels as though history is repeating itself. While he hasn’t claimed that the player is unwanted, he has outlined just how far down the pecking order he is.
“Continue working. Work, work, train, work,” he explained when asked what Garnacho needs to do to get back in the team.
“When he can have minutes to play, try and play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.
He noted how George Hemmings, Alysson, and Ibrahim Mbaye are all ahead of him in the pecking order:
“George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. Mbaye also responded well.
“We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs.”
Garnacho Offered Chance of January Exit
If things don’t change for Garnacho after a nightmare start to life at Villa Park, there could be salvation for his season. Indeed, the Daily Mail are now reporting that several La Liga sides are monitoring the winger ahead of the January transfer window.
This could offer him an exit route out of Villa with a shot at more regular game time. It’s worth noting that it would also be a chance to return home, in a way, for the 22-year-old who was born in Madrid and spent time in Atletico Madrid’s academy before moving to Manchester United in 2020, aged 16.
Ironically, Garnacho will spend time in Seville during the international break as Aston Villa have travelled to Spain for a training camp while the rest of the squad are away representing their nations. The winger’s last Argentina cap came in 2024, so will have the chance to catch Emery’s eye before Premier League action returns on 10 October.
