Manchester United youngster Zidane Iqbal has been left out of Iran’s squad for the upcoming international break.
Iqbal will not join up with his compatriots for the Jordan International Tournament, with the player preferring to stay and focus on United.
The 19-year-old is not only one of United’s hottest prospects but also his country’s. He has two senior competitive appearances for Iran.
With his inclusion in United’s Europa League B list this season, Iqbal will likely get an opportunity to impress Erik ten Hag, who is said to be a huge fan of his.
The player was on the bench for the Red Devils’ 2-0 Europa win in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol.
The managing director of Iran’s national team, Mahdi Karim, provided a big update on Iqbal that will undoubtedly endear him to fans even further.
Karim said, “Zidane Iqbal and Ali Al Hammadi have apologised for not joining the national team.”
“This is because of their desire to focus on their clubs.”
Iqbal was one of the breakout stars of pre-season, where he mostly played in a pivot with academy teammate Charlie Savage.
He was especially good with his passing and close control of the ball. His composure on the ball and ability in tight spaces are other attributes that stood out in his displays on United’s tour.
Earlier, a report came out that Ten Hag decided to keep Iqbal at the club rather than send him on loan, pending a decision to be made in January.
What is for sure is that the Iran international is highly talented, and it’s only a matter of time before he is handed an opportunity to show what he can do. His determination to stay at Carrington is a positive step towards achieving this goal.
