TROUBLED Man Utd fans have jumped to Alejandro Garnacho’s defence after he was subjected to online abuse from Argentina fans while playing on international duty.
It comes days after the 20-year-old refused to celebrate his banger from the bench which capped off United’s 3-0 win over Leicester in the Prem.
Garnacho would have wanted to kick on from Sunday’s stunner, but things couldn’t have gone more wrong for him.
The young winger was scolded by fans on social media after his 26 minute cameo in Argentina‘s 2-1 defeat to Paraguay last night.
Garnacho was berated for failing to make an impact after entering the fray in the 64th minute with Argentina already 2-1 down.
The United star was mocked with memes and edited pictures online, as fans wrote: “Garnacho should never be called up, he’s not good enough.”
While another brutal Argentina fan wrote: “Garnacho will never prove himself, terrible player.”
But United fans have jumped to their star-boy’s defence, with one writing: “Garnacho didn’t even play 30 minutes and was hardly helped.”
While another wrote: “Please tell me what Lionel Messi did in that game?”
A third said: “Garnacho needs a lot of support from us when he comes back to Manchester, probably feeling very low. Things could really kick on under Ruben Amorim.”
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It was reigning champs Argentina’s third World Cup qualifying defeat and Garnacho didn’t even play in the losses to Uruguay and Colombia.
But the bombarding couldn’t have come at a worse time for the young winger.
Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes hinted on Garnacho’s mental struggles after Sunday’s goal at Old Trafford.
Fernandes said: “He celebrate like he should because he thinks he has lost faith from some fans. I told him people will always moan but lots of people like you and enjoy what you do.
“I told him to celebrate, it was something special. He is a special player, we have difference makers. They are the ones who win us games. We want them to score every game but that isn’t going to happen.”
But former United captain Roy Keane blasted Garnacho for his refusal to celebrate on the Stick to Football podcast this week.
The 53-year-old fumed: “If a younger player can’t enjoy scoring a goal for Man Utd, then get a job somewhere else.
“When you score a goal, there should be nothing else on your mind. You’ve got fans who have travelled, paid fortunes to get there, and he’s on about people having a go at him.”
Garnacho was involved in an altercation with a fan before United’s 2-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League last week.
The fan could be heard saying: “Garnacho, you’ve got to pass better today, yeah please?
“Pass better today, score a goal, and work on your first touch as well.”
Garnacho responded by saying: “Why are you not playing?”
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom a few days later against Leicester.
In a heartwarming moment caught on camera, a young fan chanted Garnacho’s name as he was about to be subbed on and the star took notice by blowing a kiss.
The Argentine didn’t forget the gesture after the match as he gave the boy his match worn shirt and a long hug.
The adoring fan was overcome with emotion as he cried and held Garnacho’s shirt tight to his chest, with his mum later posting him wearing it in their living room.
