IT’S NO GO, GARNACHO
Ten Hag scuppers teen’s U-20 World Cup dream
MANCHESTER UNITED killed Alejandro Garnacho’s Under-20 World Cup dream – despite a plea from Argentine coach Javier Mascherano to allow the teenager to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi.
Garnacho, recovering from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for almost two months, was desperate to play in the tournament being hosted in his homeland.
But United boss Erik ten Hag refused to grant permission because he did not want to lose the winger for the final four games of the Premier League season and FA Cup Final.
The 18-year-old‘s disappointment has been eased by a lucrative new five-year contract.
But only after former Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Mascherano made a final appeal to Ten Hag to explain how Messi was also involved in a club versus country row ahead of the 2008 Olympics.
He reminded Ten Hag that Messi returned to Barcelona with a gold medal – plus the motivation to help Pep Guardiola win La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season as the club’s coach.
Messi, then 21, was initially refused permission to join the Argentina
squad going for glory in Beijing after Barca won an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over a FIFA ruling that made it mandatory for clubs to release all players called up for the Olympics.
Heartfelt
Guardiola wanted Messi to spearhead his attack in a Champions League qualifier with Wisla Krakow.
He was even included in Barcelona’s squad for a series of pre-season friendlies but when they flew to Italy to face Fiorentina, Messi made one last heartfelt plea to Guardiola to
release him for the Olympics and was granted permission to go to Beijing.
Argentina’s team, coached by World Cup winner Sergio Batista, also included Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Angel Di Maria, whose goal against Nigeria clinched gold in the final.
And Mascherano himself missed the start of Liverpool’s season after being called up as one of three over-age players.
He told Ten Hag that the experience helped turn Messi into the world superstar he became.
United were under no obligation to release Garnacho – regarded as one of the world’s hottest young talents after making 29 appearances for United this season.
The Madrid-born winger wanted to be released after being left out of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup in Qatar and then missing out on his first senior cap in March after being injured against Southampton.
Ten Hag accepted that playing at the Under-20 World Cup would have enhanced Garnacho’s development.
Options
The Dutchman was also wary about keeping the player at Old Trafford against his will.
But his return to fitness will give Ten Hag welcome options after injuries to Rafael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Scott Mctominay.
United still need points to clinch a top-four place and a return to the Champions League.
And with the Under-20 tournament starting on May 20, it would have meant Garnacho missing games against Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham.
Not to mention the FA Cup final against bitter rivals City if Argentina reached the quarter-finals.
Garnacho helped United turn around their Premier League meeting against the champions in January, when he came off the bench to set up the winning goal for Marcus Rashford.