Bellamy’s Candid Assessment
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has stated that Manchester United’s 18-year-old striker Gabriele Biancheri is “not ready for first-team football” at the senior international level, per Manchester Evening News on May 29, 2025. The Cardiff-born forward, eligible for Wales, Italy, and Canada due to his parents’ heritage, recently joined Canada’s senior squad for friendlies against Ukraine and Ivory Coast, after training with Wales in Spain. Bellamy, who omitted Biancheri from Wales’ World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium, emphasized the youngster’s current limitations while respecting his exploration of options.
Biancheri’s International Options
Biancheri, who scored 8 goals and provided 5 assists in 20 games for United’s U18s and U21s in 2024/25, per Transfermarkt, qualifies for Canada through his mother. After impressing at United, he accepted Canada coach Jesse Marsch’s invitation, signaling openness to switching allegiances. Bellamy, a former Manchester City striker, supports Biancheri’s choice, saying, “It’s his decision. Whatever he does will be right for him.” Wales’ 27-man squad, featuring Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson, highlights the gap Biancheri must bridge, per BBC Sport. On X, @MUFC_Youth noted his “bright future.”
Future Prospects
Biancheri’s versatility and 1.7 dribbles per game, per Wyscout, make him a prospect for United’s first team, but his international path remains undecided. Bellamy’s honesty reflects a nurturing approach, acknowledging Biancheri’s youth (born September 2006) and potential. Canada’s upcoming matches, starting June 3, offer him senior exposure, per Canada Soccer. United’s youth system, under Ruben Amorim, continues to monitor his progress, per The Sun. @CymruFooty on X praised Bellamy’s clarity, urging patience for Biancheri’s development as he weighs his international future.
