Argentina

Lionel Scaloni: 'Sergio Aguero did not request omission from Argentina squad'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 21 August 2018

Interim Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni insists that the likes of Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria did not ask to be left out of his first squad.

Interim Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has insisted that no-one requested to be left out of the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia.

Scaloni omitted a host of high-profile names from his squad for the double-header, including the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain.

Messi is understood to be considering his international future and is expected to refuse any call-ups for at least the remainder of 2018, but Scaloni hinted that the other selections have been made with one eye on the future of the national team.

"No player told me he did not want to come to the Argentina national team," Scaloni told The Guardian.

"All the decisions we have taken are for the good of the national team and to try to see what we can bring to the future. We have very clear in our minds that we need to add people to this new adventure.

"I spoke to the majority of the players and they all gave me their availability. We feel that we need these players right now. I feel it's the time for renovation. I'm convinced that the time to call up these players is now."

Both of Argentina's upcoming friendlies - their first games since their last-16 exit at this summer's World Cup - will be played in the United States.