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Argentina’s chances of including Brighton and Hove Albion youngster Facundo Buonanotte in their squad for the U20 World Cup are still looking slim as Roberto de Zerbi ‘complicates’ the situation.

That’s according to AS, who say Argentina’s Javier Mascherano is ‘working against the clock’ to convince the Seagulls to release the youngster.

Reports this week have explained how Mascherano has been in England, and other countries in Europe, trying to convince clubs to release youngsters for his squad for the upcoming U20 World Cup.

Buonanotte is one of those he wants in the group, but Brighton have so far refused to let him go, insisting he is part of their plans for the remainder of the season.

That was seen last night as De Zerbi handed the youngster his debut in the loss to Nottingham Forest, something Buonanotte paid back by scoring his first goal for the club.

That showed the Italian manager is ‘counting on him’ between now and the end of the campaign and that ‘complicates’ things for Argentina.

Mascherano has been ‘working against the clock’ in Europe to try and convince clubs to release his main stars, but Brighton’s push for European football means they need every player available.

Thus, they want to keep Buonanotte in England, and his ‘great performance’ in his first start will have only convinced them that he shouldn’t be released.