Ten Hag Denies Garnacho U20 World Cup Request, Risking Player's Anger

A recent report states that Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has turned down a request from winger Alejandro Garnacho to participate in the U20 World Cup for Argentina during the upcoming summer.

The U20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Argentina from May 20 to June 11.

Garnacho has been included in the preliminary squad for Argentina, who will be competing in Group A against Uzbekistan, Guatemala, and New Zealand.

Even though he is in the preliminary squad, Garnacho, who is 19 years old, is currently recuperating from an ankle injury that he sustained last month, causing him to miss the senior team's friendly games against Panama and Curacao.

He has resumed full training and there is a possibility that he might participate in the upcoming Premier League game against Aston Villa at Old Trafford this weekend.

Manchester United have six matches left to play in the Premier League for the 2022/23 season, after which they will compete against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

As per  Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul, Garnacho did 'everything he could' to convince Ten Hag and United to allow him to play in the U20 World Cup for Argentina - the only opportunity he will have to do so - but that the club rejected his request.

Doble Amarilla say the winger told Ten Hag: "I need to write my own story with the Argentina shirt. I ask you to please let me go."

Nonetheless, if Garnacho had gone to Argentina to participate in the tournament, he would have been absent from the last three league games of the season and also the FA Cup final against City on June 3rd.

The decision would have been a significant predicament for both United and Ten Hag, as they have been concerned about the squad's shortage of attacking options in recent weeks due to Garnacho's injury-induced absence.

If Anthony Martial's fitness issues this season prevent him from playing a part, United would only have Wout Weghorst, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho available to cover two positions - with the potential prospect of 120 minutes of football at Wembley.

Garnacho, barring any more injury issues, seemingly will be available for United's run-in, but is set to miss out on the opportunity of representing his country on a grand stage.