While coach Lionel Scaloni continues to mull over his future at the helm of Argentina’s national team, his players have left no doubt about where they stand.
“For me, he is one of the most important coaches,” midfielder Nicolas Paz said upon arriving in Buenos Aires on Tuesday for training camp. “He gave me my debut, and I hope he stays.”
Scaloni, whose contract is set to expire in December, had hinted at stepping down following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final in July. He remains in negotiations with the Argentine Football Association over a potential extension.
Veteran defender Cristian Romero added: “We hope he stays. He is the key figure in building this national team, so obviously we want him to continue.”
(Photo by Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Other squad members echoed the sentiment. Defender Leonardo Balerdi called it “a privilege” if Scaloni remains, while Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni highlighted the manager’s impact, stating, “He gave everything to the national team in recent times and made all Argentines very happy.”
Goalkeeper Juan Musso emphasized the deep connection within the squad: “Given the success he’s had and what he built with this team, we hold him in high regard and have great affection for him.”
(Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)
