Revealed: Reason behind Alejandro Garnacho’s Manchester derby snub defined as Ruben Amorim admits the winger has not been frozen out long-term

Alejandro Garnacho was axed from the Manchester United squad over a show of dissent towards head coach Ruben Amorim, it has emerged.

Garnacho was dropped for the Manchester derby last month along with Marcus Rashford, and has been on the bench for the last four games.

Mail Sport understands the Argentina winger appeared to turn his back on Amorim and walk away while the United boss was giving him instructions on the touchline before he came on against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League three days before the derby.

Representatives for the 20-year-old player denied that he was being disrespectful and put it down to a misunderstanding.

United declined to comment but sources insist there is no rift between the two and Garnacho has not been frozen out. However, they acknowledged that Amorim has set exacting standards for the players since taking over.

Garnacho is one of United’s brightest young stars, but the decision to bench him has raised doubts over whether he fits into Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

Alejandro Garnacho was axed from the squad for the Manchester derby by Ruben Amorim

The incident happened during United’s 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League

The decision to bench Garnacho has raised questions over his suitability for Amorim’s system

Joshua Zirkzee was picked ahead of him on the left side of United’s attack for Monday’s defeat to Newcastle only to be substituted by Kobbie Mainoo in the first half.

Rashford returned to the squad for that game as an unused substitute after a four-match absence, but he is out of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool at Anfield after missing training this week through illness.

It comes amid fresh speculation over Rashford’s future in the January transfer window, although he has rejected three offers to move to the Saudi Pro League worth up to £35million-a-year.

‘It’s the same situation,’ said Amorim on Friday. ‘At the moment, he’s ill and he’s not training so we’ll see in the future. But he’s like a normal player, then I make a selection so it’s the same.

‘I think he’s going to be out this week. He’s not training. We’ll see but I think this week he’s out.’

Meanwhile, United will trigger the one-year option in Harry Maguire’s contract at Old Trafford, with Amorim calling on the former club captain to step up in a team ‘starving’ for leadership.

Amorim, who also revealed that Amad Diallo is close to agreeing a new deal, spoke to Maguire at Carrington on Friday morning and confirmed the England defender will extend his £190,000-a-week contract until June 2026.

Both Maguire and Diallo would become free agents in the summer if they don’t sign new terms. ‘Amad is near, Harry Maguire is going to trigger our option,’ said Amorim.

Joshua Zirkzee was picked ahead of Garnacho on the left side of the attack for the Newcastle game

United will trigger the one-year option in Harry Maguire’s contract at Old Trafford

Maguire was United’s captain until former manager Erik ten Hag took the armband off him and gave it to Bruno Fernandes in the summer of 2023.

‘I spoke with him this morning and I told him that he has to improve his game on the pitch,’ said Amorim.

‘We need him a lot and also he has to improve as a leader, because we all know the situation that he had here. But we need him a lot in this moment, so we are going to trigger happily the option for Harry.

‘There are moments in the career of a player that are different. He coped very well with his struggles and when you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch.

‘He is a leader, he has to improve that part, he has to improve his game, so we are happy to continue with Harry.

‘If you want to be a top, top team you have to be leaders and we have that in the dressing-room, but they have to step up. We have a lot of young kids also and this moment is really hard. We can look at the table but you are still Manchester United.’

United head to Anfield on the back of four straight defeats in all competitions having not won there in nine years.

‘We are going to face the best team this year,’ added Amorim. ‘In the moment they are better than us but we can win any game.’