When Alejandro Garnacho was at his best at Manchester United, there perhaps wasn't a more exciting attacker to watch with the ball at his feet. The Argentine winger surged into the first team and came up with many memorable moments, such as his overhead kick against Everton and his opener in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
The 21-year-old has tons of ability and childish personality aside, he can be an excellent acquistion for Chelsea. United were probably bested in negotiations for the player after agreeing to sell in a £40m deal.
But it appears that some of the Blues' fanbase have this idea that they have signed one of the best wingers in European football. That just isn't the case and there are so many reasons why it's a weird deal for the west Londoners.
Why Chelsea's Garnacho signing is odd
Garnacho operates best on the left wing and wants freedom to express himself with the ball, relying on his raw pace and counter-attacking threat. He is direct, running at the opposition and sometimes beating his man with his fine box of tricks.
What comes after that is usually the ball hitting the side net, a tame pass going astray or the Argentina international showing indecisiveness and having the ball picked off him. His poor decision-making is one of the most frustrating traits that Chelsea fans will have to get used to.
Garnacho isn't suited to the Enzo Maresca system that is reliant on patient build up and showing tactical maturity. He is a counter-attacking team's dream but absolutely not ideal for a possession-based brand of football.
That's why he found himself on the bench for many of Ruben Amorim's games in charge last season. It wasn't just a fractious relationship between the pair that led to diminished game time, he just did not fit the Portuguese's playing philosophy.
Garnacho managed six goals and two assists in 36 Premier League games last season.
Now if Mauricio Pochettino were still Chelsea manager, then it would have been a match made in heaven and not just because of their Argentine connection. But Pochettino is more focused on his wingers stretching the pitch and using their directness.
Garnacho needs A LOT of work
Ruben Amorim didn't have the patience to work with Garnacho because he couldn't handle his behaviour in response to tactical decisions such as being benched for the Europa League final. That is something he'll have to stamp out under Maresca given the Italian has shown he can be just as ruthless.
As a United fan it is sad to see an academy product depart but SOME Chelsea fans are getting too carried away. One I spoke to regarding his acquistion suggested he could be used as a backup striker because of the Liam Delap injury which is utterly absurd.
"I'm sure he played there a couple of times for you" was his line of which I had to explain that Christian Eriksen was actually used as a false 9 ahead of him. That speaks volumes of just how much developing he still has to do especially to work in a Maresca team.
So yes, Garnacho is a good signing if you're willing to wait and give him a long stay at Stamford Bridge to hone in his explosiveness. But he is just as poor in front of goal as Jamie Gittens and both at £40m when your manager is crying out for a new centre-back is mind boggling.
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