Manchester United are facing a second club vs country row after the dispute around Alejandro Garnacho with Erik ten Hag set to block another international call-up for the U20 World Cup in Argentina.
Garnacho, 18, was named in Argentina’s preliminary squad for the tournament, which will be hosted by the South American nation this summer.
After narrowly missing out on a place in Argentina’s victorious World Cup winning squad for Qatar 2022, Garnacho was keen to be involved at the U20 tournament.
But he has been blocked from competing by United boss Ten Hag.
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The U20 World Cup begins on May 20, with the tournament overlapping with the end of the English football season.
It would mean that Garnacho, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, would miss the final weeks of the Premier League campaign, as well as the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3.
According to Doble Amarilla, Garnacho pleaded with Ten Hag to allow him to play at the U20 World Cup, claiming he said: "I need to write my own story with the Argentina shirt. I ask you to please let me go."
But Argentine journalist Gaston Edul says Ten Hag has turned down Garnacho’s request.
“Manchester United did not let Alejandro Garnacho play U20 World Cup with the Argentine National Team,” tweeted Edul.
“He did everything he could to be there.”
Ten Hag is also set to reject Zidane Iqbal’s request to play in the tournament for Iraq.
Iraqi journalist Ali Nouri claims the Dutch manager will not allow Iqbal to take part, despite his lack of minutes for United.
“The Iraqi Football Association is still awaiting Manchester United's response to allow Zidane Iqbal to be with the youth team at the World Cup finals in Argentina next month,” tweeted Iqbal.
“Coach Ten Hag refused the player's presence in the World Cup, despite the player's desire to participate in the tournament.”
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Zidane Iqbal, Alejandro Garnacho, Erik Ten Hag
Rory O'Callaghan