Anthony Elanga has been left out of Sweden’s squad and is allegedly not answering his manager’s calls.
The forward is part of a Nottingham Forest squad that sits fifth in the Premier League – but it’s been a different story for Elanga when it comes to international football.
He was left on the bench for last month’s games against Slovakia and Estonia.
Reports from the Swedish outlet the Football Channel say Elanga was the only player in the squad that didn’t come to the team dinner after the 3-0 win over Estonia.
Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson answered questions on Elanga’s absence from his squad for the upcoming Nations League clashes against Slovakia and Azerbaijan.
Quizzed on whether Elanga was angry, the former Blackburn manager said: “I don’t know.
“You can ask Anthony yourself if he was angry or not. I don’t know.”
Asked why the former Manchester United player wasn’t at the dinner, Tomasson remained coy.
“I don’t think I’m the right person to ask that. It’s better to ask him,” he said.
On Monday, the ex-Malmo boss was asked if he’d spoken to Elanga yet.
“No, he hasn’t called me,” he said. “Not yet.
“I tried to call him but we haven’t been able to connect. But I’m sure we’ll get in touch before the next games.
3
“There is a long time to go until then.”
He also described Elanga’s behaviour as ‘strange’ but admits there is ‘nothing’ he can change.
Elanga left Manchester United in 2023 when he joined Forest for £15million, ending a nine-year association with the Red Devils.
He has also made 19 appearances for his country since 2022, bagging three goals in that time.
The 22-year-old was eligible to play for Sweden, Cameroon or England at international level, but chose the former having been born there.
Ex-Denmark hotshot Tomasson was named Sweden manager in February, replacing Janne Andersson.
3
They currently sit top of their Nations League group.
“Of course, players are disappointed when they are not selected,” Danish coach Tomasson, who became Sweden’s first-ever foreign manager in February, continued.
“Alexander Isak and Emil Forsberg are back and when two players are back, a player has to go out.
“You don’t want to make decisions like that as a human being, but as a coach it’s your job and that’s what being a coach is all about.
“Someone will always be disappointed, but that’s football and part of it.”
While Sweden carry on without Elanga, the winger and Nottingham Forest will be back in action against Arsenal on November 23.
