[Pat Murphy]

Controversy Over Krkic's U-17 Call Up

Bojan Krkic's call up to the Spanish under-17 training camp has not gone down well with the player, let alone Barcelona. The word "harassment" is being bandied about.

Krkic must attend the under-17 camp in Madrid from August 2 to 14, something that will not allow him to participate in Barcelona's pre-season tour of Asia.

It gives him no time to prepare himself for the new season, and his family and agent are asking if he must play for every single junior team he is eligible for.

Krkic has represented the under-19, under-20 and under-21 teams over the last few months, and the unwritten rule is that once a player becomes a regular for a senior team, he is left out of the teams below that level.

Being a 16-year-old and eligible for all the junior squads, the temptation to use him is huge, and the Spanish Federation are being accused of having gone overboard.

He is considered by many to be on the verge of a senior international call up, and that he has been asked to report on duty for the under-17 team yet again has caused for some criticism.

Both Barcelona and the player's advisors are speaking with the Spanish authorities to overturn this decision out of common sense, and allow the player to get ready for his first season with the Barcelona senior team, something that will only benefit Spain in both the short and long term.

Most experts consider him a solid bet to become a regular part of Spain's senior squad before Euro 2008.

from Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Controversy Over Krkic's U-17 Call Up