Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says he plans to call up Alejandro Garnacho to the national team squad for June’s internationals, all being well, after the teenager was ruled out of this month’s fixtures due to injury.
The attacker is set for a number of weeks on the sidelines after suffering ankle ligament damage in the goalless Premier League draw with Southampton. Garnacho’s participation in the current international break was immediately cast into doubt when he was seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches.
He has so far missed the 1-0 second-leg Europa League quarter-final win over Real Betis and Sunday’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Fulham due to the setback. Garnacho had been called up to the senior Argentina squad for the second time in his career earlier this month, after receiving his first last March.
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He is yet to make his senior international debut and Garnacho rued that he wouldn't be able to make it during the current break due to his ankle injury. "It is difficult to put into words how I'm feeling right now,” Garnacho subsequently wrote on Instagram.
"Unfortunately I will not be able to help my team and team-mates in the upcoming games in what is a very important part of the season for us at Manchester United.
"I am disappointed to also miss the opportunity to be with my teammates of the Argentinian national team in what would have been a great and proud moment for me and my family. This is part of football and our profession, however, I am already focused in my recovery."
Argentina boss Scaloni is also disappointed not to be welcoming Garnacho into his latest squad but all but confirmed that should he be available, he would be picked once again for June’s batch of matches.
Speaking in a press conference, the World Cup-winning manager said: “We have high hopes for Garnacho and we hope that he can put on our jersey later. Unfortunately he will not come due to injury but we are confident that he can be there in June, he is a boy in whom we have high hopes.”
Madrid-born Garnacho qualifies to play for Argentina through his mother but Spain are said to be trying to persuade him to switch allegiances before he surpasses Fifa’s various thresholds that would prevent a change of country. The 18-year-old has represented both nations at youth level.
United defender Lisandro Martinez, though, has told Spain to “forget about” trying to coax Garnacho. Speaking earlier this month he vowed: “[Garnacho] is with me here, forget about it. I'll make sure [he plays for Argentina]. The only way is to go there with me."
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