‘You little dope!’ – Troy Deeney tells Bruno Fernandes to ‘smash’ Man Utd teammate in training

Troy Deeney has told Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes to ‘smash’ Alejandro Garnacho in training after he posed in another club’s shirt.

Garnacho is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer and has attracted interest from Serie A champions Napoli and Premier League club Chelsea.

The Argentine was once was of the most highly-rated players at the club but he endured a frustrating 2024-25 season before being told by Ruben Amorim that he was free to leave.

Garnacho is currently on holiday in Ibiza and risked the wrath of Manchester United fans by posting a picture on social media of him wearing Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa shirt.

Rashford and Garnacho were United teammates for years before the England international joined Villa on loan in January.

Another player who has been deemed surplus to requirements, Rashford has held talks with Aston Villa over a permanent transfer but is still ‘dreaming’ of a move to Barcelona.

Ex-Premier League striker Deeney slammed Garnacho for posing in another club’s shirt and said he would ‘smash’ the 20-year-old in training if he was United captain Fernandes.

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‘Did you see that picture of Garnacho wearing the Rashford Villa shirt on holiday? The guy is an absolute wind-up,’ talkSPORT presenter Shebahn Aherne said.

‘Why would you not try to fall into line when you’re trying to make your way back into the manager’s good books?

‘That’s the most immature thing I’ve seen from Garnacho. It’s so immature. I didn’t think you’d get that from Garnacho.

‘What are you doing? Why are you trying to wind everyone up and wind up the club that’s paying your wages?’

Deeney then said: ‘They obviously think they’ve got a move lined up. It’s a new generation so I’ve got to be careful not to sound like the old, grumpy man.

‘But he needs a clip around the ear. Give him a clip around the ear. He’s bored and has got no respect.

‘If it was me at United, if I was Fernandes, I’d wait until he came back and smash him in training. I genuinely would.

‘I’m not even trying to make headlines, I’d smash him and say to him, “this is Man United, who do you think you are you little dope?”‘

Like Garnacho and Rashford, Fernandes was also heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford earlier in the summer transfer window.

The Portugal midfielder was offered a lucrative contract to join the Saudi Pro League but decided to reject the approach in favour of staying at Manchester United.

United legend Gary Neville named Garnacho as one of four players he expects to leave the club following the arrival of £62.5m signing Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

Discussing Garnacho’s situation, Neville said: ‘I think if players are taking on the manager and if players are questioning the manager in public through social media or through other means, the manager has to win.

‘If the manager doesn’t win, the manager has to leave and I don’t think that’s going to happen this time. That’s happened far too many times before.

‘I think Garnacho will leave purely because of that, I think they’ve had enough. Garnacho can play in the Premier League, no doubt, but I think he’ll love it in Spain, he’ll thrive over there, he’ll score goals.

‘He’ll probably be someone next season that we’re all looking back on thinking, “Why didn’t Manchester United keep him?”, that type of thing will probably happen, there’s an element of that, but I think he has to go.’

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