Slovenia national team manager Bostjan Cesar has criticised Manchester United over the handling of striker Benjamin Sesko, reigniting tensions between club and country. The 22-year-old forward will miss Slovenia's upcoming friendlies against Cyprus and Croatia due to a shin injury sustained in United's win over Liverpool earlier this month.
Cesar questioned Sesko's playing time for United after the player withdrew from Slovenia's March internationals with a minor fitness issue, yet returned to play for the club shortly after. “He missed the last assembly in March and then I kind of wanted him to be absent from United for a while, but then he came back quickly and I don't think he missed a game for the club,” Cesar told reporters on Monday.
The Slovenia boss added that if a player has not been in competitive rhythm for a month, it is pointless to have him play at half-strength for the national team. He emphasised that in cases of injury, the national team receives documentation and decides jointly with club doctors on the best course of action.
Sesko, who joined United from RB Leipzig last summer for around £74 million, scored 12 goals in his debut season, with seven coming after Michael Carrick's appointment as interim head coach in January. He missed United's final three matches of the season due to the shin problem, having previously sat out the March international break with a minor fitness complaint.
This is not the first such dispute. In November, former Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek expressed frustration over a lack of communication from United regarding Sesko's fitness for World Cup qualifying fixtures. The matter was resolved after direct contact between medical teams, with Kek thanking United for their cooperation.
