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Alejandro Garnacho’s brother lashes out at Rio Ferdinand for ‘fake’ Lionel Messi claim
Manchester United hero Alejandro Garnacho's brother hasn't taken Rio Ferdinand's comments lightly.
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Alejandro Garnacho's brother has hit out at Rio Ferdinand on social media over his recent claims that Lionel Messi had unfollowed the Manchester United starlet. The Argentine teenager's public admiration of Cristiano Ronaldo has raised questions, given he is international team-mates with Messi.
Garnacho netted one of the Premier League's greatest-ever goals in United's 3-0 win against Everton on Sunday.
The 19-year-old celebrated the stunning bicycle kick by replicating Ronaldo's iconic Siu celebration at Goodison Park. It wasn't the first time he had done so.
He later shared an image of his effort alongside the Portuguese great's similarly memorable strike against Juventus in the Champions League.
Ronaldo is a United legend and shared the dressing room with Garnacho at the start of the latter's breakthrough 2022/23 season, undoubtedly owing to his status as a role model.
But Garnacho has already earned three caps for Argentina, playing alongside captain Messi, without showing the same idolisation for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
And Ferdinand raised eyebrows on Monday when he claimed his son had told him that Messi had unfollowed the United No 17 on social media.
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"My lad said to me... he said Messi's unfollowed him," Ferdinand claimed on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE.
"He said Messi's unfollowed him! Because he [Garnacho] comes out, doesn't care, 'I'm a Ronaldo man'. Who's the GOAT? Ronaldo... when he's in the Argentina squad."
However, Garnacho's brother, Roberto, is rarely shy of speaking out on social media. And he didn't let Ferdinand's comments slide without correcting them.
He tweeted: "Fake. Messi never followed him. Stop making stuff up just to create hate. Garna loves and admires both of them, and you are all trying to create a rivalry."
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Garnacho has had the distinct privilege of playing alongside the two greatest players of his generation, helping morph him into one of Europe's most exciting young wingers.
In recent weeks, he has cemented his spot as a regular starter under Ten Hag, pushing Marcus Rashford to the right and demoting £85million signing Antony to the bench.
His gravity-defying goal against Everton should guarantee he keeps his spot in Wednesday's must-win Champions League trip to Galatasaray.
United know that defeat in Istanbul - which would be their fourth in five Group A games - will confirm their elimination at the first hurdle. Even a draw may not be enough to progress.