Garnacho cameo could spell problems for underwhelming €56m Chelsea star

Suraj Radia

• 17 Dec 2025 05:30 CST
• 3 min read

Nieuws

Chelsea have finally got a glimpse of what Alejandro Garnacho is capable of but the young winger’s breakout may have slammed the door shut on another of Enzo Maresca’s summer signings in the process.

Garnacho was introduced at half-time of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup win over Cardiff on Tuesday with the game goalless but the forward struck twice to eventually lead Maresca’s side to the semi-finals with a 3-1 win.

The brace was only Garnacho’s fourth goal for Chelsea since his €46 million transfer from Manchester United in August but it provided a welcome relief for Maresca, especially with his starters failing to take their chances against lower league opposition.

In particular, Jamie Gittens was singled out by supporters for having underperformed, not for the first time this season, with the 21-year-old still yet to live up to his €56m price tag since his summer arrival.

Gittens has netted just once since his signing – in the previous round against Wolves in which he also created two goals in a man-of-the-match display – and he failed to make an impact against Cardiff before being substituted in the 66th minute.

Garnacho’s cameo will only have moved the Argentine further ahead of his teammate in the pecking order at left wing and, with only four Premier League starts for Gittens this season, the situation could become dire unless his performances improve.

Chelsea transfer policy could facilitate quick exit for Gittens

Gittens and Garnacho had both been heavily pursued by Chelsea for a number of months before they eventually made the switch to Stamford Bridge during the summer.

Neither player has shown their best on a consistent level for Chelsea as of yet but Garnacho will have done his chances no harm of starting against Newcastle this weekend in order to build some momentum.

For Gittens, the English winger will still have plenty of time to adapt at Chelsea, particularly having signed until 2032, but the club’s revolving door transfer policy could see his future on the line if he cannot prove his worth.

With another young winger in Geovany Quenda set to arrive next summer, the pressure will be on Gittens to take his opportunities whenever they come or risk becoming another costly flop that Chelsea may struggle to get value out of in the future.

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