Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho has had the rare privilege of playing with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Rio Ferdinand alluded his fandom for the Portuguese had consequences
Alejandro Garnacho’s brother has slammed any suggestion that Lionel Messi unfollowed the Manchester United star on Instagram, by claiming he never followed him in the first place.
According to United legend Rio Ferdinand, Argentina international Garnacho was unfollowed by Messi because of the 19-year-old’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. Garnacho is one of the lucky few players to have lined up with Messi and Ronaldo on his side during his young career.
But the Madrid-born winger has been upfront with the fact that the Portuguese is his idol, rather than his Argentina teammate, and after scoring the likely goal of the season at Goodison Park on Sunday, Garnacho tipped his cap to Ronaldo by copying his trademark “Sui” celebration.
Fans claimed Messi unfollowed Garnacho after posting a picture of Ronaldo on Instagram last year, and he still does not follow the United talent. Ferdinand, speaking on his Vibe With Podcast, says Garnacho told him his Ronaldo fandom was not taken well by Messi.
“You know what I like about him? He doesn’t give a f***,” Ferdinand said. “Garnacho told me that Messi unfollowed him just because he makes no secret of preferring Ronaldo. He comes out, don’t care, “I’m a Ronaldo man”. Who’s the GOAT (greatest of all time)? Ronaldo. (Even) when he’s in the Argentina squad.”
However, Garnacho’s brother, Roberto, has since dismissed this – and made it clear he has no beef with Ferdinand in the process.
He posted on X: “Fake , Messi never followed him , stop making stuff up just to create hate , garna loves and admires both of them and you all Trying to creating a rivalry.”
Before adding: “I’ve even seen videos of Messi showing the World Cup to garna, mate if u knew how we celebrated it at home.” He then clarified: “Wow. This isn’t even targeted to Rio specifically it was just the incorrect info on Garna’s name about this from many people in general, wanted to just make it clear!”
Alejandro Garnacho scored an astonishing overhead kick vs Everton on Sunday. ( Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Inter Miami superstar Messi and Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo have been locked in a rivalry for the past two decades and it peaked when they were at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, competing head-to-head for the Ballon d’Or year in, year out.
Although they share immense respect for each other, both Messi and Ronaldo believe they are the best player of their generation, and it appears Messi is not happy about his countryman’s preference for former United, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon sensation Ronaldo.
Garnacho’s incredible goal on Sunday immediately drew comparisons to Wayne Rooney’s winner in the Manchester Derby in 2011, and six-time Premer League champion Ferdinand was asked which goal was better.
“Garnacho, he replied defiantly. “One was off a shin pad, the other was off his boot. I’m sorry, Wazza. I was in my house in the front room with my family and we went ballistic. It was nuts.
“Even my little boy, his tooth had just fell out, he fell and his tooth just got knocked out, he was trying to do overhead kicks in the living room like probably millions of little kids around the world at the time.
“That goal is better than Rooney’s. He was running away from the goal, a bit further away from the goal, at an angle. It was unbelievable, breathtaking moment.”
