Manchester United have four games to play before the season is broken for an unprecedented mid-season international tournament, with this year’s World Cup kicking off on November 20 in Qatar.
Erik ten Hag can expect the majority of his first-team squad to depart for the four-week-long tournament and that in itself is a disadvantage for the teams with many international regulars.
Lisandro Martinez, the Argentina international, is a permanent fixture on Ten Hag’s teamsheet at club level and he is also beginning to make himself indispensable at international level.
Ahead of this year’s tournament, it was reported that Argentina had asked the clubs of their players to rest them in the final round of games going into the tournament.
Now, it has been reported that the request has been rejected by United. That’s according to the Daily Mail, who say that in the latest rendition of the age-old club-vs-country row, Premier League clubs will deny any pressure to rest their players.
As per the report, one club has even been asked to release one of their players earlier than when they are obliged to do so – a request that was also denied.
In addition to Martinez, youngster Alejandro Garnacho is also eligible to join Argentina on their trip to Qatar but it remains to be seen whether he’s a realistic pick. Martinez is almost guaranteed to be in the final squad.
SN’s verdict…
The congested fixture list will concern nations competing in this year’s World Cup but clubs will also be reluctant to play without their best players.
Martinez is completely integral to how Ten Hag wants his side to play and the Dutchman is highly unlikely to abide by any ruling that asks him to rest the player he was desperate to take with him from Ajax.
There are two sides to every story but in this case, clubs are being affected more than the nations taking part in the World Cup.
