Speaking as a pundit for FOX, Zlatan Ibrahimović did not hold back in his criticism of Rudi Garcia following Belgium’s 2–1 defeat by Spain. In the Swedish legend’s view, the Red Devils’ manager bears primary responsibility for this defeat.
Rudi Garcia has not been spared. In the wake of Belgium’s cruel elimination in the World Cup quarter-finals against Spain (2–1), the French manager is facing criticism for his decision to take Thibaut Courtois off and bring on Senne Lammens, who was at fault for Merino’s winning goal. As a reminder, the Real Madrid goalkeeper had felt pain in his quadriceps, before revealing after the final whistle that he could have continued the match.
“I felt fine during the match, especially in the second half,” the Belgian goalkeeper said in the mixed zone. “But I’d made two clearances from the six-metre line and, on the second one, I felt a slightly sharper pain in my quadriceps. I’d mentioned that I couldn’t really clear the ball far anymore, even though I could have stayed in goal. But the manager said: ‘If you’re not 100 per cent, I’ll take you off.’ I tried to carry on for a bit, but he’d already decided to make the substitution. It’s not a problem, because the team comes first, of course.”
“It’s entirely Garcia’s fault”
Appearing on the FOX set, Zlatan Ibrahimović did not share the same view. The Swedish legend singled out Rudi Garcia as the main culprit for the Red Devils’ elimination: “It’s entirely Garcia’s fault,” thundered the former PSG player. “Why bring on Lammens when Penders was on the bench? Just because one plays for Manchester United and the other for Strasbourg? You don’t pick a goalkeeper for the national team like that.”
“Penders is far better. Lammens is overrated at this level. Everyone saw that. It’s a disgrace; the manager and the goalkeeping coach should be ashamed,” he added, in comments reported by the Corriere dello Sport. For his part, Rudi Garcia stood by his position wholeheartedly: “I have no regrets; at the World Cup, you have to be 100 per cent fit. I’ve never fielded players who weren’t in peak condition.” Everyone will make up their own mind.
Transfer news – Live updates for 11 July 2026
In addition to the highly likely departure of Mason Greenwood, Marseille could soon part ways with Hamed Junior Traoré, who is being courted in Italy. Meanwhile, Lens have identified a replacement for Malang Sarr to strengthen their defence. Keep up to date with all the transfer news via our live transfer feed, updated in real time, and don’t miss out on the latest rumours and official announcements.
Chelsea transfer news: Xabi Alonso has already claimed his first victim!
Xabi Alonso’s arrival on the Chelsea bench could already be turning some players’ fortunes upside down in London. As pre-season training gets underway, several absences are raising questions and serving as a reminder that some players could soon find themselves on their way out this summer.
Will Alejandro Garnacho’s summer be a repeat of Raheem Sterling’s experience last summer? Having joined Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window from Manchester United for a fee estimated at over 45 million euros, Alejandro Garnacho had certainly imagined a very different scenario for his debut at Stamford Bridge. Yet, just one year after his arrival, the 22-year-old Argentine winger finds himself in a very uncertain situation. Despite 43 appearances across all competitions, his goalscoring record remains woefully inadequate, with just eight goals – a far cry from the expectations placed on a player signed for a hefty fee and regarded as one of the greatest attacking talents of his generation. A difficult adjustment that ultimately extends the struggles he already faced during his final months at Manchester United.
Xabi Alonso’s arrival on the Blues’ bench now appears to have fuelled speculation about his future. Whilst several players not selected for the 2026 World Cup have resumed training at Cobham – including Cole Palmer and João Pedro – Garnacho is reported not to have taken part in the first training sessions under the new Spanish manager, according to the Daily Mail. For its part, Chelsea has not commented on the reasons for this absence – whether it is due to injury or some other reason – but the London club is now reportedly open to letting its summer signing leave. The club’s management would even prefer a permanent sale to a loan, evidence that the Argentine no longer seems to feature in the plans for the new project spearheaded by Alonso.
A departure as early as this summer is on the cards
This situation comes after a season in which Garnacho never quite managed to win over his various managers. Neither Enzo Maresca at the start of the season, nor Liam Rosenior following his arrival in January, nor even caretaker manager Calum McFarlane placed their full trust in him over the long term. His playing time dropped significantly towards the end of the season, with just one start in the last twelve matches. On the left wing, Pedro Neto has established himself as the preferred choice, whilst Chelsea are now looking to build a squad capable of starting afresh, notably with the arrival of Emmanuel Emegha, who has already been spotted in training. For Garnacho, who has not been called up by Argentina for the 2026 World Cup, the situation is inevitably difficult… His status has been considerably weakened in the space of a few months.
Garnacho’s possible departure is not, however, entirely unexpected in England. Even before the transfer window opened, rumours were already circulating about a split between the player and Chelsea, as his lack of consistency was beginning to cause concern. Meanwhile, the former head of Manchester United’s academy, Nicky Butt, had already highlighted certain aspects of his personality, stating on the podcast *The Good, The Bad & The Football* that the Argentine had “always been a bit aloof” and had become “a superstar far too quickly”. The former Manchester United midfielder had even claimed that the player’s departure was “the best thing Manchester United ever did”, criticising his attitude and pointing out that no player should ever think they are more important than their club. After an encouraging 2024–2025 season, in which he scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists for the Red Devils, Garnacho hoped to relaunch his career at Chelsea.
A fresh start in Serie A?
Despite this tricky situation in London, Alejandro Garnacho retains a certain value on the transfer market, particularly given that wingers are in high demand. Several clubs could therefore try their luck this summer, starting with AS Roma, already named among the suitors in Serie A, although no direct talks have yet taken place between the two clubs, according to the English media. The Argentine had already been courted during the previous summer transfer window, notably by Saudi clubs, but had refused at the time to leave Europe so soon. Bayer Leverkusen, then managed by Erik ten Hag, had also enquired about his situation, but Garnacho ultimately chose to continue his career in the Premier League. A year on, however, his future appears much more uncertain.
