The midfielder signed a professional contract with Manchester United this month
Head coach Ukraine U-19 national team Dmitry Mykhailenko commented on the situation with the possible naturalization and invitation to the blue-yellows of the Manchester United midfielder Zach Baumann.
“Of course, we have been following him since he expressed a desire to play for the Ukrainian national team. Our representatives have spoken to him and his parents. If a player wants to obtain citizenship, then this is definitely a positive thing, and we should encourage it.”
“In the conditions of war, such players are becoming more and more numerous. Therefore, we are actively tracking players who have Ukrainian roots.”
“First of all, when calling up players from foreign clubs, we must adhere to the sporting principle, and it makes no difference where the footballer plays. He must, first of all, correspond to the level of the best players of the Ukrainian national team, this is the main indicator.”
Baumann was born in England, but his parents are from Kolomyia in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. In February, it was reported that the young Manchester club graduate is ready to play for the Ukrainian national team in the future.
Since last summer, Baumann has played for the Red Devils U-18 team, with whom the ethnic Ukrainian won the Northern Division of the Premier League in the corresponding age category. Zak also managed to play several matches and score a goal for the club’s U-21 team. In the spring, he was already involved in training with the first team.
Baumann has played in four matches in the current U-18 Premier League season (positions: central and attacking midfielder) and has made one assist. The midfielder recently signed a full-time contract with Manchester United.
The Ukrainian U-19 team will play in Group 1 with the teams of the Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Slovenia in the first qualifying round of the 2025 European Youth Championship (players born in 2006 and younger). The two best teams from each quartet and the best third-place team will advance to the next stage.
Source: Sportarena
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