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Football

17th Mar 2019

Man Utd’s Victor Lindelof rejects Sweden call-up

Simon Lloyd

The defender will play no part in Sweden’s upcoming games against Romania and Norway, according to reports

Manchester United centre-half Victor Lindelof has reportedly turned down a call-up to the Swedish national side.

The 24-year-old has established himself as one of United’s most consistent defenders this season, his selection by Janne Andersson coming as no surprise.

Lindelof is said to have cited ‘personal reasons’ for his withdrawal from the squad, though reports in his homeland have speculated that, bizarrely, his decision may have been influenced by the omission of John Guidetti.

Guidetti, the Alaves striker who was in the youth ranks at Manchester City at the start of his career, played alongside Lindelof in the Swedish World Cup side last summer and is said to be good friends with the United defender.

Victor  Lindelof

The decision to leave him out of the Swedish team could, according to Fotbollskanalen, have prompted Lindelof to pull out in a show of solidarity with his friend.

More likely, however, is that the Lindelof’s ‘personal reasons’ might have something to do with the fact his partner is heavily pregnant.

Sweden kick off their Euro 2020 qualifying by hosting Romania on Saturday. They follow this with a trip over the border to face Norway three days later.

United, who crashed out of the FA Cup in a lacklustre display against Wolverhampton over  the weekend, return to action with a league match at home to Watford on March 30.

They slipped to fifth in the Premier League following their defeat to Arsenal last week, a position they hold after Chelsea lost their game in hand at Everton on Sunday afternoon.