Italian club’s director explains failed January transfer bid, citing wage demands as the deal-breaker.
In a surprising revelation, Napoli’s director of sport, Giovanni Manna, has opened up about why the Italian giants failed to secure the signing of Manchester United’s rising star Alejandro Garnacho during the January transfer window. Despite their strong interest and a formal bid submitted to United, the deal collapsed due to the young winger’s salary demands.
The January transfer window was rife with speculation about the future of several Manchester United players, with Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia all securing loan moves away from Old Trafford. Garnacho, however, remained with the Red Devils despite reported interest from both Chelsea and Napoli.
Napoli, who were in the market for a new forward following the departure of their star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, identified Garnacho as their top target. The 20-year-old Argentine has been a standout performer for United in recent seasons, earning praise for his pace, skill, and maturity on the pitch.
Speaking about the failed transfer, Manna admitted that Napoli made a significant bid for Garnacho but were unable to agree on personal terms with the player. “We made an important bid to Manchester United for Garnacho. We really wanted him,” Manna said, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
However, the deal hit a snag when it came to Garnacho’s wage demands. “We weren’t able to agree on personal terms with Alejandro,” Manna explained. “He requested an important salary to leave in January, and we must respect our players.”
According to Capology, Garnacho currently earns £50,000 per week at Manchester United, a figure that would place him outside the top ten earners at Napoli. Given his growing reputation and the expectation that he would step into Kvaratskhelia’s shoes, it’s likely that Garnacho sought a substantial pay rise to make the move to Serie A.
For Manchester United and their manager, Amorim, the collapse of the deal comes as a relief. Amorim has been vocal about his admiration for Garnacho and his importance to the team. The Portuguese coach revealed that the young winger has shown remarkable growth since being dropped for the Manchester derby earlier in the season.
“He changed right away since that game from City,” Amorim said. “The way he understands things and understands that I just want to help him. I just want to win games. The approach when we talked with him—he changed in everything. The way he recovers, the way he trains. He understands that sometimes I am a demanding coach, but it’s always for his benefit.”
Amorim also highlighted Garnacho’s improved connection with teammates like Kobbie Mainoo and his versatility on the pitch. “He understood the position, the moments of playing inside and outside. The connection with Mainoo. I think he is improving a lot,” the manager added.
For Napoli, missing out on Garnacho is a setback as they look to rebuild their squad. For Manchester United, however, retaining the talented winger is a win. Garnacho’s development and commitment to the team have made him a key figure in Amorim’s plans, and his continued presence at Old Trafford is a boost for the Red Devils as they aim to climb the Premier League table.
As the dust settles on the January transfer window, Napoli’s pursuit of Garnacho serves as a reminder of the complexities of modern football transfers—where talent, ambition, and financial realities often collide.
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