Napoli tells why Garnacho's move from Man Utd fell through over player's 'demands''

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has revealed that the club’s January pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho fell through due to the Manchester United winger’s contract demands.

The Serie A giants, alongside Chelsea, had emerged as frontrunners for his signature after United entertained offers for the young Argentine.

With Garnacho valued at around £60 million, United sought to generate funds to comply with PSR and FFP regulations while boosting Ruben Amorim’s transfer budget.

However, Napoli’s only bid of £40 million was rejected, and Chelsea never formalized their interest before the transfer deadline.

Despite Garnacho's openness to leaving Old Trafford, a move never materialized, though the situation could be revisited in the summer.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte personally held video talks with the 20-year-old in a bid to lure him to Italy, and Manna has since fueled speculation by admitting the club saw Garnacho as a direct replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

However, Manna clarified that financial negotiations, rather than United’s asking price, ultimately led to the collapse of the deal.

“We made an important bid to Manchester United for Garnacho. We really wanted him,” Manna stated on Wednesday.

“We weren’t able to agree on personal terms. He requested a significant salary to leave the Premier League in January, and we must respect our players.”

United fans were relieved to see Garnacho stay, especially given the club’s already depleted attack following the January loan departures of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa and Antony to Real Betis.

Garnacho has been one of United’s most productive players this season, registering eight goals and six assists in 36 appearances.

Though his early struggles under Amorim cast doubt on his long-term future, his recent form has earned his manager’s trust, positioning him as a key figure for the remainder of the campaign.

With Amad, Rasmus Højlund, and Joshua Zirkzee the only recognized forwards left in the squad, concerns persist among fans.

Amorim has also been forced to utilize Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and Kobbie Mainoo in attacking roles within his 3-4-2-1 system.

Regardless of how Garnacho performs in the coming months, his situation will continue to attract interest from Napoli and other potential suitors in the summer.