Internet Desk: New Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza says one of his first tasks will be to speak to Lionel Messi, who plans to retire from international duty, but said the conversation would not be “about convincing him of anything.”
Former Sao Paulo manager Bauza was hired by the Argentina Football Federation (AFA) on Monday to replace Gerardo Martino, who stepped down after the team’s penalty shootout defeat to Chile in this summer’s Copa America Centenario final, and now immediately prepares for 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela in early September.
The search for Martino’s successor was complicated by ongoing institutional chaos in Argentine football, and allegations of misappropriation of AFA funds, with the national government and FIFA stepping in to appoint a Comision Regularizadora (Normalising Commission) to address the situation.
Such chaos also apparently played a role in Messi’s shock decision to retire from international football following the Copa America final loss, which was Argentina’s third successive defeat in a major tournament final. It had also been suggested that the Barcelona star might be consulted for his views on the new national coach, given the importance of persuading him to return to the Albiceleste fold.
Messi was not the only Argentina player reportedly considering his international future following the summer, with senior teammates including Barca colleague Javier Mascherano and Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero also said to be unhappy with how the AFA was running the team.