Garnacho's Chelsea return to Old Trafford overshadowed by online clash with fan over his brother

Alejandro Garnacho returned to Old Trafford for the first time since joining Chelsea in the summer, but he did not feature as Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-1 on Saturday. The 21-year-old forward, who joined Chelsea for about £40 million after a falling-out that saw him sidelined from United’s first-team squad, watched from the bench as his former club earned the win.

Garnacho was met with sustained boos from home fans during warmups, a reminder that the forward’s departure from United remains a sore topic for some supporters. The day’s result also occurred against a backdrop of controversy surrounding Garnacho’s family, including a clash on social media between his younger brother and a United supporter.

Roberto Garnacho, Alejandro’s younger brother, responded to a fan who had taunted him online after Chelsea’s loss on September 20. The fan, using the handle @tmaziee, wrote: 'September 20th? Yeah hold that you fing freaks.' Roberto replied: 'You weigh 150kg, go to the fing gym instead of wasting your time texting me.' The exchange added to a summer marked by Roberto’s previous controversies, including accusations that he leaked team information to the media—a claim he has denied.

The social-media flare comes amid broader scrutiny of Garnacho’s summer move. The transfer fee, reported at around £40 million, followed his exit from United after a period in which he was reportedly exiled from the first-team squad under manager Ruben Amorim. The Chelsea move kept him connected to high-stakes competitions, but he did not participate on the day United sealed a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, leaving the spotlight on his on-pitch absence and off-field noise.

Garnacho has faced questions about his role with Chelsea since the move. He started every knockout-stage match for United in their Europa League run, including both legs of the semi-final against Athletic Bilbao, but was left on the bench for the final in Bilbao in May before being introduced in the closing stages as United chased an equaliser. After United were beaten 1-0 in the final, Roberto took to social media to accuse Amorim of throwing him under the bus in Bilbao, a charge he has since disputed.

"Obviously it’s hard for everyone," Garnacho said after the match at San Mames earlier this year. "Our season was s***. We didn’t beat anyone in the league. When you don’t score goals, you always need more. Until we reached the final, I played every round. And I played 20 minutes today – I don’t know. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens next."

The Chelsea forward’s return to Old Trafford on Saturday underscored a summer of upheaval for Garnacho. While Chelsea attempted to secure their first win over United in the North West since 2013, Garnacho watched from the bench as his former club claimed the points. The episode highlighted how off-field dynamics—ranging from fan interactions to family remarks—continue to shape the public narrative around a player who remains central to ongoing transfer-season chatter and a tense rivalry between two Premier League heavyweights.