Man Utd star Alejandro Garnacho rejects chance to switch national allegiance from Argentina
MANCHESTER UNITED star Alejandro Garnacho has officially snubbed Spain to play for Argentina.
The 18-year-old has burst onto the scene at Old Trafford this term and is currently negotiating a new long-term contract.
The winger, who boss Erik ten Hag has confirmed will be sidelined long-term with an ankle injury, has also had things to sort regarding his international future.
Garnacho was born in Madrid and has represented Spain at youth level but qualifies for Lionel Scaloni’s World Cup winners due to his mother being born in Argentina.
He initially received a call-up to the South American country’s senior squad for two World Cup qualifiers a year ago but did not make an appearance in either game.
After scoring four goals in four caps for their U20s to help them win the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament he then missed out on the squad for Qatar in November.
That allegedly led to Spain getting back in touch with him to try and persuade him to switch his allegiance – but Garnacho allegedly politely declined.
He was then included in the Argentina squad for their upcoming friendlies with Panama and Curacao only for the blow he suffered against Southampton on Sunday to rule him out.
Bernardo Romeo, coordinator of Argentina’s youth teams, was the one to reveal to publication Ole that the United ace “had been called by the coordinator of Spain’s teams”.
He said: “Alejandro Garnacho was very clear, he told me that he answered him out of respect, but he has decided to play for Argentina.”
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Romero added that the attacker “is very convinced of playing for the Argentine National Team. You enter the house and he has all the photos with Messi.”
Garnacho, who moved to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid in October 2020, said after he pulled out of the latest Argentina squad: “It is difficult to put into words how I feel at this moment.
“I am disappointed to miss the opportunity to be with my teammates from the Argentine national team, in what would have been a great moment of pride for me and my family.”