Man Utd decision hints at plans for Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United have refused to release teenage starlet Alejandro Garnacho for the upcoming Under-20 South American Championship with Argentina, hinting the 18-year-old will continue to be heavily involved with the first-team at Old Trafford.

Garnacho made his United debut in April, featuring a number of times on the bench in the Premier League last season alongside a starring role in the club’s first FA Youth Cup triumph in 11 years.

The teenager has since made the permanent step up to the first-team and scored winning goals against Real Sociedad and Fulham shortly before the World Cup break. Overall, he has been involved in all of the club’s last six games in all competition, starting three of them.

Garnacho has been in contention to go to the triumphant World Cup with Argentina, despite being uncapped at senior level, having been first called up Lionel Scaloni in March.

The Under-20 Sudamericano starts on 19 January and runs until 12 February, during which time United have four games, as well as big clashes with Manchester City and Barcelona just before and just after respectively.

Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports has reported that United are not the only club to have blocked players from linking up with Javier Mascherano’s Under-20 squad, with Juventus choosing to keep hold of Matias Soule and Lazio’s Luka Romero also staying in Europe, among others.

90min has previously reported that United have been in talks with Garnacho’s representatives over a new contract since the summer and remain confident he will commit his future to the club.

The player’s current contract will run up to 2025, but there is an offer of a lucrative new deal on the table more befitting his new-found status this season. There had been hope he might sign fresh terms during the World Cup break but the club is ‘calm’ about the situation.