We remember the spectacular brass kick of the young Argentine, who earned him the Puskas Award in 2024. We also remember the “shit” Garnacho, who kicked up the grass on the penalty spot against FC Copenhagen in 2024. A “sky is the limit” start at Manchester United ended with an exit in 2025, a move to Chelsea, then a loan to Aston Villa the following season. Will the Argentine finally succeed in convincing of his worth?
Aston Villa have gone from being the fourth best club in England with a Champions League ticket, to starting the season below the relegation line. These are Garnacho’s working conditions at his new club.
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Like Harvey Elliott last season on loan from Liverpool, Garnacho has failed to make an impact in his first few games as a Villa player, and he is yet to start in the Premier League. In Villa’s first six games this season, Garnacho has made just three substitute appearances, playing a total of 31 minutes without a goal or assist.
It seems clear that George Hemmings, Alysson and Ibrahim Mbaye are all ahead of Garnacho in Unai Emery’s game time queue, which raises questions about Garnacho’s place in the squad and whether the transfer will really be permanent in the summer.
According to TEAMtalk sources at Villa, Emery has “continued faith” in Garnacho and that the former United star will have more opportunities to prove himself in the near future. That said, the sources also claimed that Villa management has not yet decided to give the 22-year-old enough games to trigger the purchase obligation of around £43 million. Emery and the gang will wait to see how Garnacho performs when he gets the chance this season.
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Once again, this feels increasingly similar to Elliott’s tenure with Villa last season, where the Liverpool player only had to play 10 Premier League games for a £35 million transfer to be confirmed. Instead, Elliott made just four appearances for Villa in the Premier League, returning to Liverpool at the end of the season, which has since sent him on loan to La Liga side Valencia for the 2026/27 season.
Alejandro Garnacho doesn’t have many games to convince him to be worth £43 million and get the necessary games to trigger a permanent transfer.
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