The Cardiff-born 18-year-old is also eligible to play for Canada, where his mother was born, and Italy – birthplace of his father.
Manchester United striker Gabriele Biancheri has joined up with the Canada squad and could switch his international allegiance from Wales (Ben Whitley/PA)open image in gallery
Manchester United striker Gabriele Biancheri has joined up with the Canada squad and could switch his international allegiance from Wales (Ben Whitley/PA) (PA Wire)
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Craig Bellamy is relaxed with Manchester United striker Gabriele Biancheri joining a Canada training camp – just a week after being with the Wales squad in Spain.
Cardiff-born Biancheri is eligible to play for Canada, where his mother was born, and Italy – birthplace of his father.
The 18-year-old, a regular scorer for United youth teams, was part of Bellamy’s training squad in Spain ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Biancheri was not in the Wales squad named on Wednesday for those fixtures with Liechtenstein and Belgium, with the player accepting an invitation to join Canada’s training camp prior to June games against Ukraine and the Ivory Coast.
“I like people having options, it’s healthy,” Bellamy said of a player capped by Wales from under-16 to under-19 level.
“He’s not ready for our squad yet. It’s something he’d like to go and have a look at, but I like to think we have done our work as well.
“He has been with us through the younger age groups, he knows what we are about and who we are.
“I don’t think it ever hurts someone to have options and to go and explore them. I’m never against that.
“At the end the decision will be his. He knows where we are and where he is. He’s not ready for first-team football with us at this moment.
“It’s his decision. I’ve known him since he was very young and I know his family really well. Whatever he does will be the right thing for him, it’s not a problem.”
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Canada boss Jesse Marsch has praised Biancheri and compared him to his highly rated Lille striker Jonathan David.
The former Leeds boss told Canadian reporters last week: “He’s a dynamic player. He’s very good around the goal. You can see he’s an intelligent player.
“He’s a version of Jonathan David. He’s not exactly the same player but he’s a striker that can play up on the backline and is also good at coming underneath and connecting plays and being part of the build-up phase.
“I’ve had good conversations with Gabe and his family. He has several options to think about in what country he wants to represent.
“I think it’s really important that the family feels the connection to Canada.”