Anthony Elanga’s development at Manchester United has progressed well this season, especially after Ralf Rangnick arrived at Old Trafford.
The forward came off the bench to score his second league goal of the season in his side’s 4-2 win over Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday.
On Christmas Eve, the 19-year-old committed his long-term future to the Red Devils by signing an extension at Old Trafford, with his new deal now keeping him at the club until 2026. He also made his debut for Sweden U21 last June.
Sweden were to face Finland twice [fixtures were cancelled] last month and national team manager, Janne Andersson, was keen on including the teenager in his squad. However, United refused to let him leave for national duty.
This means Elanga is yet to represent Sweden’s senior team, and although he was born in that country, he is eligible to play for Cameroon through his father, Joseph, who represented the African country 17 times during his own career.
Reports in Cameroon have indicated that Elanga Sr wants his son to play for the African nation.
According to Footazimuts, the Indomitable Lions’ manager, Toni Conceição, has held talks with both the player and his entourage. The ‘negotiations are proving to be complicated’ since they are ‘struggling to convince the agent and especially the player’s mother’.
With these reports now surfacing, Sweden Team Manager Stefan Pettersson had his own part to say on this topic.
“This is nothing strange for us. He (Anthony) has been in our business for a long time with the youth teams and he was asked for the January tour,” Pettersson said, relayed by Expressen.
“Of course, we’re in control. He knows very well that he is high on the list of Swedish football because he has been with it for so long.”
“He knows how we look at him, of course. Then it’s on Janne Andersson’s table when it comes to competitions. It’s obviously great that he’s doing well and that makes Janne’s job even harder and that’s the way it should be.”
Pettersson admits he continues to focus on his job with Sweden, while the final decision rests with the United player.
“No, we work our way. We are attentive to the players who come up and who have the opportunity to eventually choose other national teams. We try to keep track of it all the time,” he added.
“We try to take care of them as well as possible so that they feel that they are in a good environment and that it is Sweden that applies if they should get the chance at the senior level.”
“They should feel a tremendous sense of security in Swedish football. Then there are always individual choices for players and their families. These are probably not always very simple decisions.”
“Yes, I think so [about Andersson feeling confident]. We feel safe. We have never worked in such a way that we try to persuade someone to do something they do not want. That’s not how we work. In the end, it is the individual’s own desire that governs.”
