The 22-year-old forward sustained a minor knee injury during United’s 2–2 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. He was initially named in Slovenia’s squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden, but failed to report to the national camp in Brdo pri Kranju on Monday, remaining at Carrington for treatment instead.

The decision angered Slovenia boss Matjaž Kek, who publicly criticised the lack of communication from Old Trafford and claimed his medical team had not been informed of the player’s condition. Kek demanded “maximum respect” for Slovenia’s staff and hinted at a diplomatic issue between club and country if the matter wasn’t clarified.

However, the Slovenian FA later confirmed that they had received full medical documentation from Manchester United outlining Šeško’s scans and clinical assessment. The federation has since accepted United’s recommendation that the striker remain in Manchester for further evaluation and rehabilitation.

In a statement, the FA said: “Benjamin’s injury currently prevents him from joining training or competitive matches. The club has provided all necessary medical information, and we wish him a quick recovery.”

Sources at United have insisted the club acted in accordance with FIFA regulations and had no intention of disrespecting the Slovenian setup. Šeško is expected to undergo additional scans later this week, though early assessments suggest the injury is not serious.

Kek, who has made Šeško a key figure in Slovenia’s qualification campaign, admitted his frustration stemmed from wanting clarity over the striker’s fitness.

“The national team is something special, and we expect open communication,” he said. “My only concern is Benjamin’s well-being.”

Šeško has enjoyed a strong start to life at Manchester United since his summer move from RB Leipzig, scoring five goals in 14 appearances across all competitions. His absence will come as a setback to both club and country; with United boss Rúben Amorim already juggling a busy injury list heading into the festive period.

Despite the initial tension, both parties are now understood to be aligned on the next steps, with Slovenia’s federation keen to maintain a good relationship with United ahead of the next international window in March.

United will hope to have Šeško back in contention before the end of the month, though his availability for the club’s next Premier League fixture remains uncertain.