Benjamin Sesko has been at the centre of a club-versus-country disagreement after he picked up an injury in the late stages of Manchester United's 2-2 draw against Tottenham
The Football Association of Slovenia has moved to bring an end to the club-versus-country row involving Benjamin Sesko. The forward picked up a knee injury during Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.
He had been due to link up with the Slovenia national team for their World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden, but did not report for international duty at the Slovenian FA’s headquarters in Brdo pri Kranju on Monday and has instead stayed at Carrington for further treatment on an injury that is not thought to be serious.
But Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek was left furious by the call for Sesko to remain in Manchester and claimed he had been kept in the dark by United.
He demanded his country be shown "maximum respect" and even threatened, according to the Daily Mail, to cause a "diplomatic incident", as he would have preferred his own doctors to examine the forward.
But despite Kek’s claims, Slovenia’s national federation has revealed it has received all the relevant medical documentation and accepted United’s diagnosis as they aim to put the row to bed.
“The medical team of the Slovenian national football team received the complete medical documentation from Manchester United regarding Benjamin Sesko’s health condition following his injury on Saturday, including the current clinical picture and the examinations performed,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“Unfortunately, the injury currently does not allow for the training process. In the coming days, additional examinations and the start of treatment are planned at the club, so Benjamin will unfortunately not be able to participate in this national team action. We wish Benjamin a speedy recovery and a return to the football field as soon as possible.”
United believe they followed the necessary protocols in terms of withdrawing Sesko from the squad. However, a furious Kek claimed earlier this week: “With all due respect to a great club like Manchester United, we have officially not received anything yet; no papers, no documents.
“We would certainly like to get them. We want our medical team to also take a look at it. Our doctor is an expert in this field. We don’t have just anyone in this position.
“I cannot comment, of course I have certain information and I am also in contact with Beni. I can’t say anything because officially we don’t know anything at all.
“United haven’t contacted anyone from our camp. Of course, I am concerned about the player. The only thing that matters to me is his wellbeing."
He added: “The national team is something very special and I expect maximum respect from everyone.
“Slovenia deserves that, even if on the other side there is a powerhouse like England, and something as extraordinary as the Premier League. After all it has been quite some time since England defeated Slovenia and that in itself says something about us.”