Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has revealed that Alejandro Garnacho will pay for a team dinner as his punishment for heading straight down the tunnel after being substituted against Ipswich Town on Wednesday night.
Garnacho was withdrawn shortly before the interval at Old Trafford after Patrick Dorgu was shown a red card, with Amorim needing to bring an extra defender on, which proved to be Noussair Mazraoui.
The Argentina international headed straight down the tunnel and then posted a questionable image on his Instagram story after the match, which involved the forward looking disappointed when he headed off the field.
However, Garnacho did later post a photograph of Man United players celebrating with the captain: "Important 3 points! Team."
Amorim has insisted that there is no issue between the two, but the 20-year-old will pay for a team dinner due to his unhappy reaction at being substituted during what proved to be a 3-2 success for the 20-time English champions.
© Imago
Amorim confirms Garnacho situation has been rectified
"He came to me. Was funny because the next day he came to me to my office. I did some investigation and he went to the dressing room, changed his clothes because he was wet, he watched the game not on the bench and at the end of the game he was there and went home," Amorim told reporters during Friday's press conference.
"So there is not an issue there. He's a young kid that will learn. The important thing was the next morning he was speaking with me. I think we need to see that small things like walking out onto the pitch - because (Joshua) Zirkzee did the same thing (after he was substituted on 33 minutes against Newcastle in December) and the context was different - but it was the same thing.
"We have to understand the situation, the context, the age of the players, of course they have to be better. They have to understand perception here is really important. But you can deal with that the next day and move on so let's just move on.
"But I told him at Manchester United, everything is important and the perception in a big club is really important. So he is going to pay a dinner to all the team and that's it.
"I think he (Garnacho) understands. But, like I said, [the players] read everything, all the small things. And I know the players quite well, I played for quite a while, I understand they are frustrated. He was subbed, he was playing well and has to go off in that moment of the game. It's hard to deal with everything but they have to deal with everything. I just try to help them be better footballers."
Addressing social media in general, Amorim added: I think it is completely different for the players nowadays. Before, it was two newspapers and nothing more. Now you cannot go to social media without seeing the news or a photo.
"You can have 100 good things and then one bad thing, and people focus on the one bad thing. They need help to deal with that. It is modern football and they have to be prepared for that."
© Imago
Will Garnacho face Fulham in the FA Cup?
Amorim has revealed that Garnacho suffered a minor injury against Ipswich, but the Man United head coach is hopeful that the Argentine will have recovered in time for Sunday's FA Cup clash against Fulham.
"He has a knock," Amorim added. "When he went to shoot, was blocked almost inside the box. He has a knock, I expect for him to be ready but we will see. I have to wait until tomorrow."
Garnacho has made 40 appearances for Man United during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring eight goals and registering six assists in the process, but there is uncertainty surrounding his long-term future at the club.
Napoli and Chelsea are both believed to have been interested in signing the forward in January, and his status as a homegrown player means that Man United could decide to cash-in if a huge offer arrives during this summer's transfer window.
Matt Law
