Manchester United have now confirmed that one of their stars will not be allowed to go to the FIFA U-20 World Cup, despite the player being reportedly desperate to do so.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has revealed that attacker Alejandro Garnacho will not be released by the club to represent Argentina at the youth tournament next month.
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Speaking of the decision in a press conference on Friday afternoon, the Dutchman revealed that the 18-year-old will resume training at Carrington as usual, and will not be flying to South America as he had requested.
"No we don't release him (to play at the Under-20 World Cup)," Ten Hag said, per The Athletic.
"He will return tomorrow in team training, partially.
"Then we will have to see when he can return totally in the training, and back into games."
The winger is one of the club's breakout stars this season, having made 29 appearances across all competitions for the first team before his campaign was cut short in March due t injury, resulting in him missing 10 games.
With his recovery having gone accordingly, the Madrid-born attacker was said to be desperate to feature at the youth showpiece in his homeland next month, with the team's head coach Javier Mascherano even flying out to Manchester to plead with the club to allow him join his national teammates for the tournament.
Garnacho, who also received a call-up to to represent Argentina's senior team last month, reportedly texted Ten Hag, saying: "I need to write my own story with the Argentina shirt. I ask you to please let me go," according to Argentine publication Doble Amarilla.
It is thought that United's top four chase and their FA Cup final against Manchester City in early June was a factor in Ten Hag's decision to retain the player instead. With the U-20 World Cup starting on 20 May, the timing of the competition coincides with the climax of the domestic season.
However, it seems the news that he will not be going to the showpiece has not got him completely down as the Red Devils also announced on Friday afternoon that he has signed a new five-year deal at Old Trafford, which will run until 2028.
Locked in ??We are thrilled to announce @AGarnacho7 has committed his future to United! ??#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 28, 2023
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