Premier League clubs to reject Argentina request to release World Cup player early

Forum 1 year ago

Premier League clubs to reject Argentina request to release World Cup player early

Premier League clubs are expected to collectively reject a request from the Argentine Football Association not to use players called up for La Albiceleste’s World Cup squad in the final round of club fixtures before the tournament in Qatar begins.

Premier League fixtures will be played up until the weekend of 12/13 November, a week before the opening game and nine days before Argentina play their first game in Group C.

Argentina have organised a warm-up friendly against host nation Qatar on 16 November and are seemingly keen to have their players report for duty as early as possible to allow for maximum preparation. But FIFA rules dictate that clubs don’t have to release players before 14 November.

The Daily Mail has reported that one Premier League club has been contacted by the AFA asking for a player to be released early for the World Cup. But that unnamed team flat out refused and informed others who may yet be subject to similar requests.

It is said that the AFA will be met with rejection by every club should they continue.

The club vs. country debate affects a handful of Premier League players, with coach Lionel Scaloni recently including 49 names in his preliminary World Cup squad - eight of those play in England.

Manchester United pair Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho are part of that longlist, as is Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez Emiliano Buendia. Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is also on the list and likely to make the final squad, with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister becoming a regular in Argentina colours this year.

Julian Alvarez of Manchester City and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi complete the eight.