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Roy Keane tells Alejandro Garnacho: Celebrate your Manchester United goals or leave

Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Leicester City FC at Old Trafford on November 10, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Alejandro Garnacho’s celebration of a goal against Leicester City was muted following criticism from supporters - Getty Images/Carl Recine

Roy Keane has told Alejandro Garnacho that he should leave Manchester United if he cannot enjoy celebrating scoring goals for the club. The Argentina winger gave a muted reaction after scoring a fine goal in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday.

Bruno Fernandes revealed that Garnacho “didn’t celebrate like he should because he thinks he has lost the faith from some fans”. It followed a frosty exchange with a supporter prior to United’s Europa League tie against PAOK Salonika a few days earlier.

But Garnacho, who is United’s top scorer this season with seven goals, has been warned by Keane that he should look for another job if he cannot celebrate scoring at Old Trafford.

“If you can’t celebrate a goal, there is something drastically wrong with this game,” said the former United captain, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast (listen below).

“Whatever has gone on off the pitch for any player – it could be family stuff – you work all week, you’re playing the game to score a goal.

“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.

“People make sacrifices to travel to watch Manchester United, he scores a brilliant goal, they are having a tough time – and if a younger player can’t enjoy scoring a goal for Man United, then get a job somewhere else.

“He’s probably under pressure from outside sources. Every player is under pressure from family, for tickets, your performances, your fitness, your contract – there’s all sorts of pressures on players.

“But for that moment, or for that weekend when you’ve scored a goal, you should be going: ‘Whatever happens for the rest of my life, if it finishes tonight, I’m going to enjoy this moment’.”

Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2024 Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho celebrates scoring their third goal with Bruno Fernandes
Garnacho (left) has seven goals in 18 appearances for Manchester United this season - Reuters/Molly Darlington

The fan who riled Garnacho is known as YouTuber PlanetFaz and told the Argentine he did not pass to team-mates enough and asked him to work on his touch. After Garnacho had finished meeting with other fans, he turned to his inquisitor – who filmed the encounter – and asked: “Why are you not playing, man?” before walking away.

Fernandes said he had encouraged Garnacho not to let the critics get to him and that the vast majority of fans valued him greatly.

“Garnacho scored a banger but didn’t celebrate like he should because he thinks he has lost faith from some fans,” the United captain said.

“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 and 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.”