The young Manchester United talent did not appear on Lionel Scaloni’s squad list, and the coach laid out the reasons plainly when addressing the media.
Few would doubt that Alejandro Garnacho stands as one of the brightest prospects for the Argentina national team. His rise has become a tangible reality after earning three caps with the senior group. Yet Scaloni is not rushing things. That is why Garnacho was not summoned for the South American qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil during the FIFA international window in November.
ROLL CALL FOR THE DUAL FIXTURE PERIOD
WHY GARNACHO WAS NOT INCLUDED
Speaking at a pre-match press conference before facing La Celeste, Scaloni offered a straightforward explanation for the omission. The coach emphasized the logic behind his selections: football decisions must balance the needs of the squad with the development path of individual players. He pointed out that bringing players to the camp without consistent playing time can disrupt both club and national team dynamics. The human element matters just as much as performance on the field, and decisions are made with that in mind.
He also added that granting a call could be easy, but the reality is more nuanced. Recent conversations had revealed that Garnacho had not been getting minutes with his club, and that influenced the choice. Scaloni stressed that Garnacho is a player on the radar and that his potential remains a key asset for the national team going forward, provided the transition is managed wisely and with patience.
It should be noted that Garnacho had been included in the previous two qualifying campaigns but saw limited action, clocking only a few minutes in a match in La Paz against Bolivia.
Source: Goal