Leonardo Balerdi, Matias Soulé and Santiago Castro have been called up by Argentina for three upcoming international friendlies, while Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have been left out.
Argentina will face Bolivia on September 30, Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6. The three matches will give Lionel Scaloni an opportunity to assess several players as the national team enters a new phase.
Balerdi, Soulé and Castro earn Argentina call-ups
Balerdi’s selection follows his impressive start to life at Roma. The central defender delivered a composed performance in the 2-0 victory over Torino, demonstrating the speed, aggression and recovery ability that have quickly made him an important option for Gian Piero Gasperini.
Soulé also returns to the Argentina squad after beginning the season strongly. The 23-year-old has already produced decisive moments for Roma, including his dramatic winning goal against Atalanta.
Castro completes the Roma trio selected by Scaloni. Although the striker continues to compete with Donyell Malen for minutes at club level, the call-up provides him with another opportunity to demonstrate his potential on the international stage.
Their inclusion represents another positive sign for Roma, whose young players continue to earn recognition beyond Serie A.
Dybala and Molina left out
There was no place in the squad for Dybala or Molina. Dybala has been central to Roma’s excellent start, forming an increasingly productive partnership with Malen, but Scaloni has decided not to include the forward for these fixtures.
Molina has also been omitted despite featuring regularly during the opening weeks of Roma’s season.
The exclusions could allow both players to remain at Trigoria and manage their workload during the international break, although Roma will lose several other first-team players to their respective national teams.
Messi prepares for Argentina farewell
The international window is also expected to carry considerable emotional significance for Lionel Messi. The Argentina icon is set to feature as he moves closer to the conclusion of his legendary international career.
For Balerdi, Soulé and Castro, the three friendlies will provide an opportunity to share the squad with Messi while strengthening their own positions in Scaloni’s plans.
Leave a Reply