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Ben White has decided against joining the England squad for the upcoming friendlies, as revealed by Gareth Southgate on Thursday.
The England manager expressed his desire to include White in the team for matches against Brazil and Belgium, but the decision was relayed to him by Arsenal's technical director, Edu, who indicated that the defender was not interested in being selected.
White's absence from the England camp during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar sparked controversy, with speculations suggesting it was linked to a disagreement with Southgate's assistant, Steve Holland.
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White and England call up
Arsenal have informed England head coach Gareth Southgate of Ben White’s intention to turn down the Three Lions call-up.
Southgate confirmed, as reported by Fabrizio, “We had a call from Arsenal last week to say that Ben White didn’t want to be considered for England squads.
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“Ben White didn’t want to be selected and it’s a great shame, he’s a player I really like. I took him to the Euros and World Cup.
I spoke to him post-Qatar, I was keen to pick him… there was clearly reticence on his side”.
Southgate expressing his desire to keep the door open for White's return, the 26-year-old's international future remains uncertain, especially with the European Championship looming.
With White's decision casting a shadow over his international career, Southgate remains pragmatic about the situation, expressing his understanding of the potential backlash while still hoping for White's eventual return to the fold.
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