manchestereveningnews.co.uk

'Not ready'- International boss makes honest admission about exciting Man United youngster

Man United youngster Gabriele Biancheri has options at international level.

Comments

Sport

Gabriele Biancheri in Manchester United training.

Gabriele Biancheri's international future is yet to be decided.(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)

Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has said Manchester United youngster Gabriele Biancheri is "not ready for first team football" after he recently teamed up with Canada's senior squad.

The striker, 18, has represented Wales at youth level but he qualifies to also play for Italy and Canada, the birth places of his parents, meaning he has options to consider at international level.

Qualifying to play for Canada through his mother, Biancheri, who enjoyed a productive campaign for both United's Under-18s and Under-21s this season, recently accepted an invitation to link up with Jesse Marsch's squad ahead of their upcoming friendlies with Ukraine and the Ivory Coast.

The United youngster spent time with Bellamy and the Wales first-team squad at a training camp in Spain earlier this month. However, after being left out of the former Manchester City man's 27-man squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium, he accepted an invitation to link up with the Canada squad.

Now, Bellamy has admitted the Cardiff-born striker is not yet at the level required to make his mark in senior football on the International stage.

"I like people having options, it's healthy," Bellamy said. "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. 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."

On his decision to link up with the Canada national team, Bellamy added: "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."

Here at the Manchester Evening News, we're dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.

And finally, if you'd rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.

Read full news in source page