Messi Reportedly Determined Who Wouldn't Play for Argentina World Cup Team

© Sputnik / Maxim Bogodvid / Go to the mediabankLionel Messi (Argentina) on warm-up before the match 1/8 finals of the FIFA World Cup between French and Argentina national teams
Lionel Messi (Argentina) on warm-up before the match 1/8 finals of the FIFA World Cup between French and Argentina national teams - Sputnik International
Subscribe
A report by Argentinian daily Clarín appears to shed some light on the incredible leverage Lionel Messi enjoyed in the Argentina national squad.

According to Clarin, Messi influenced manager Jorge Sampaoli‘s decision not to pick Roma defender Federico Fazio and PSG midfielder Giovani Lo Celso for World Cup matches, pointing to potential weak spots in their performance on the field.

The recommendation appears to have been put to practice: Lo Celso didn’t appear a single time in the World Cup quest, while Fazio took part only in the second half of the round of 16 defeat to France 3-4, which led to Argentina’s exit of the tournament.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group D - Argentina vs Croatia - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - June 21, 2018 Argentina's Lionel Messi looks dejected after Croatia's Luka Modric scores their second goal - Sputnik International
Messi Fan Dies After Trying to Imitate Football Star's Moves - Reports

There were earlier reports that due to a conflict with Messi, Mauro Icardi, the iconic Inter Milan striker, hadn’t been included in the Argentinian squad and therefore did not to partake in the 2018 World Cup.

Icardi is now married to the former wife of Maxi Lopez, Messi’s friend, and is rumored to have been frozen out of the national team on Messi’s advice. The latter, however, insisted some time ago that “it is a lie,” as he had never blocked Icardi from the team, since he “doesn’t run it.”

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала