Enzo Maresca has spoken out on one thing on the mind of Manchester United fans around Alejandro Garnacho ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
Alejandro Garnacho made his exit from Old Trafford in the summer window after he was frozen out of the Manchester United first-team squad under Ruben Amorim.
The Argentina international was not involved in United’s pre-season summer tour and did not feature for the Red Devils in the new season ahead of his transfer.
Chelsea were favourites to land Garnacho from United and the Blues completed a late swoop for the 21-year-old before the transfer window closed in September.
Garnacho inked a deal with Chelsea until 2032 and the Blues agreed to pay United £40m to sign the winger, with the Red Devils including a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
Enzo Maresca breaks his silence on Chelsea signing Alejandro Garnacho ahead of the former Man Utd star’s return to Old Trafford
Alejandro Garnacho made his Chelsea debut last week after the former Manchester United winger came off the bench in the 2-2 Premier League draw against Brentford.
The Blues summer signing picked up more first-team minutes on Wednesday, with Garnacho making a cameo appearance for Chelsea in the Champions League.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Enzo Maresca said that he was impressed with Garnacho’s performances against Brentford and Bayern Munich.
The 45-year-old Chelsea manager also confirmed that Garnacho is now “ready to start” and could be in the Blues’ starting XI against United at Old Trafford.
“In the last two games, he came on and did very good,” he said on Friday, as per BBC Sport.
“We are happy with how he is adapting in our style and what we want for our winger.
“If he is ready to start tomorrow? I think he is ready to start.”
Enzo Maresca raises an even bigger question for Man Utd fans over Alejandro Garnacho ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match
United fans had already been asking whether or not former Red Devils talent Garnacho could feature in the Premier League tie at Old Trafford on the weekend.
However, Maresca has made it clear that Garnacho is part of his plans for Chelsea’s travelling squad to Manchester and provided a key update on the winger’s fitness.
The Chelsea manager, on the other hand, remained cryptic on whether or not Garnacho will specifically start for the Blues against former side United.
Maresca said United youth academy product Garnacho is “ready to start,” but that does not provide the absolute assurance that the winger will make the starting XI on the day.
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