Alejandro Garnacho could be made unavailable for Manchester United for the final few games of the season in a potential blow for Erik ten Hag.
The 18-year-old has played 29 games in all competitions this term, scoring four goals - including a brilliant match winner against Fulham earlier in the season.
But Ten Hag could be without the budding forward for their potential Premier League and FA Cup run-in.
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Garnacho is set to be named in Argentina's team for the U20 World Cup - which runs from May 20 to June 11.
That means he would miss league matches against Bournemouth and Fulham as well as the FA Cup final should Man United beat Brighton on Sunday.
Naturally, in a crucial period for the team, the club are reluctant to release Garnacho for international duty as he recovers from an ankle injury.
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Javier Mascherano, who played for the likes of West Ham United, Liverpool and Barcelona, is the head coach of Argentina's U20s side.
And further reports claim he will fly to England next week in an attempt to convince Man United to allow Garnacho to represent his national team for the home tournament.
He narrowly missed out on a spot in Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign last year, but he will be one of the stars of the tournament.
Argentinian journalist Gaston Edul is claiming Man United are trying to block him from taking part in the tournament ahead of the rest of the 2022/23 term.
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"Manchester United does not want to give up Alejandro Garnacho for the World Cup and they have already communicated it," he said in a tweet translated from Spanish.
"It is difficult for them to leave. AFA and [U20 boss Javier] Mascherano are going to do everything possible to keep him there but it is complicated."
Garnacho could be needed for Ten Hag as Man United continue to fight for a top-four spot in the league and remain in the FA Cup as they look to bag a domestic double, having already won the Carabao Cup.
Topics: Alejandro Garnacho, Football, Manchester United
Nasir Jabbar