Alejandro Garnacho’s recruitment by Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2025 was regarded as one of the window’s most unexpected moves. One of United’s most promising young players, the Argentine winger was renowned for his explosive speed, flair, and ability to score stunning goals. Chelsea’s intention to revamp their forward line under Enzo Maresca with an emphasis on youth and energy was indicated by his reported £40 million move to Stamford Bridge.
Garnacho also saw the move as an opportunity to start over and establish a new identity in London, free from the perception of “bad blood” amongst fans of his previous team, Manchester United. The 21-year-old Argentine winger had spent four seasons at Old Trafford, gradually evolving from an academy prodigy into a key first-team player. Between 2021 and 2025, he scored 26 goals and 22 assists in 144 appearances across all competitions for United — a decent enough tally for a young wide player still finding his rhythm in senior football.
During his tenure at Manchester United, this one celebration of Garnacho’s immediately drew awareness. In some games in which he had scored, he went on to sit or place himself on the advertising hoardings behind the goal after scoring the goal, facing the crowd with a swaggering look. The photo soon went viral. The position was perceived as elegant, composed, and intimidating, drawing comparisons to some of the most self-assured characters in the game.
The celebration is inspired from his idol growing up and the 5 time Ballon D’or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo. He had pulled out that celebration in a La Liga match for the very first time against Las Palmas at the Bernabeu during the 2017-18 season. Later, he went on to do the same celebration against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final during the same season as well.
The the first time Garnacho ever put up that celebration was against West Ham at Old Trafford back during the 23/24 season and Manchester United won that game 3-0. Bruno Fernandes played a sublime pass to him before he scored the goal from right-wing, his unnatural position, by cutting in from his right foot and finishing it beautifully, albeit deflected, from his left. He was famously joined on the hoarding by his young teammates, Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo. The picture went viral across social media quickly.
But, in recent times, there has been a trend which is going on social media that, whenever Garnacho has pulled out that celebration, his team has gone on to lose the game. That is, unfortunately, a myth, as, he has put up the “ad board” celebration seven times in his footballing career so far, but only on three occasions has his team gone on to lose.
Below, I debunk all the games in which the Argentine winger has committed to that iconic celebration after scoring a goal and in which he has won and lost:
Alejandro Garnacho’s has put up the iconic “ad board” celebration on multiple occasions:
The first one came against West Ham as mentioned above. Manchester United’s “Portuguese Magnifico”, Bruno Fernandes, played that pass into him after which he scored the goal from inside the box with his left foot from right-wing.
The second one came against Chelsea in April of 2024 during the 2023/24 Premier League season at Stamford Bridge. Antony gave an exceptional “outside of the boot” assist to Garnacho before he scored the header and completed his brace as a result. Unfortunately, the Red Devils lost that game 4-3, thanks to a Cole Palmer injury time hat-trick.
The third time he did that was against Manchester City in August 2024 at Wembley in the FA Community Shield. It was again assisted by Bruno Fernandes from outside of his boot and Garnacho scored the goal from the right-wing, with his left foot after cutting in, from inside the box. Unfortunately, they lost the game again, but this time on penalties.
Then, he did it against Southampton in September 2024, at the St. Mary’s stadium. This time it was assisted by another Portuguese in Diogo Dalot to seal a 0-3 victory for the Red Devils in the 96th minute.
The fifth one came against Barnsley again in September of 2024 in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford when Marcus Rashford dribbled past 3 defenders inside the box before playing the ball to the Argentine winger who drilled into the bottom right corner of the net to score his first goal of that game. He went on to score a brace and they won the game 7-0.
The last one of his Manchester United career came against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in March of this year in what was a spectacular finish in the top right corner of the goal from inside the box and they won the game 0-3.
The most recent one came as recent as last week as a new Chelsea player, when, his now new Portuguese teammate Pedro Neto, served the pass on a plate from a counter-attack to him before he finished the tremendous goal by stepping over with his right foot on the ball and finishing with his left from the left flank of the field. This time too, he was on the side of a losing cause as Chelsea lost the game 2-1. Even Neto joined him for the celebration.
In conclusion, Alejandro Garnacho’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, while marking a big investment and a statement of commitment, remains a high-potential, high-stakes bet for Chelsea. The Argentine winger has unquestionable, superstar potential, evidenced by his spectacular moments and goal-scoring exploits at Manchester United, particularly his Puskas-winning performance. His need for a fresh start and the chance to develop under Enzo Maresca’s methods reveals a hunger to fulfill his great potential.
