Manchester United are reportedly set for crunch talks with Argentina U20 head coach Javier Mascherano over Alejandro Garnacho’s latest international call-up. The Red Devils are apparently reluctant to allow the exciting teenager to end his season early to play at the U20 World Cup this summer.
Argentina have named Garnacho in their squad for the tournament, which begins on May 20. However, United have two Premier League games on and beyond that date, and could yet book a place in the FA Cup final on June 3.
The 18-year-old – who will soon recover from a month-long injury lay-off – has been a regular feature of Erik ten Hag’s side this term, making 29 appearances across all competitions. The Old Trafford outfit are therefore unwilling to let Garnacho leave for international duty during the season’s closing weeks.
That decision has frustrated Argentinian football chiefs. Former Liverpool midfielder Mascherano, the country’s U20s head coach, is reportedly set for talks with United officials to help resolve the issue.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Mascherano will fly to England next week in an attempt to secure Garnacho’s release to the Argentinian national team. The ex-Barcelona star will apparently also have meetings with other clubs during his visit.
If Mascherano is successful with his appeal to United, Garnacho will miss Premier League matches against Bournemouth (May 20) and Fulham (May 28). The former Atletico Madrid prospect could also miss out on playing in the FA Cup final if United beat Brighton in Sunday’s semi-final.
Ten Hag’s side were comfortably beaten by Sevilla in the second leg of their Europa League, ruling out Garnacho’s chances of playing in the competition’s showdown clash on May 31. The United boss will still be keen to keep the academy graduate around for the final weeks of the campaign.
After Garnacho rose from the bench to have an impact during United’s FA Cup win over West Ham in March, Ten Hag gushed about the star, who also qualifies for Spain. The Dutchman said: “I see today another step. I tell him before the game ‘it’s getting time you had an impact when you come on, but now you need to have impact as a starter’.
“I think he is capable of it so that is the next step he needs to take. [Fearlessness] is one of his skills but definitely it is a great skill when you are fearless, when you are brave.
“He is one of the players that I think has a skill that is so specific. There are not so many players in world football who can take players on, who are capable of just going at players and out dribble them.
“But he has more skill than only that, for example, finishing. I see he also has a big engine. He is fast and has speed, but he can keep running for 90 minutes or 120 minutes.”
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