Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

🚨 South American World Cup qualfiying match dates confirmed.

Argentina will play Chile on September 5 at the Monumental and will play Colombia on September 10 in Barranquilla. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/9XZHq00rRT

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 5, 2024

 

I expect Scaloni to announce the squad in the last week of August. The squad selection from Scaloni will probably the most important for a while as that'll show wat direction Scaloni will be thinking of.

 

Di Maria most likely will play against Chile so he could have his final match at home. I just hope Otamendi will be phased out. He's simply doesnt have the speed anymore and he's won everything. The remaining qualifier pretty much would be the only real test for the team for upcoming WC.

 

🚨 Julián Álvarez is getting closer and closer to being an Atletico Madrid player. It would be a 5 year contract and negotiations are advanced with Manchester City. Via @CLMerlo. pic.twitter.com/je08dsoL5N

— Mundo Albiceleste ⭐🌟⭐🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) August 5, 2024

 

Seems like it is a done deal. He seems like an ideal play for Cholo. I wouldn't have minded if he had stayed in England to a Chelsea but Atletico is sure as hell better than PSG.

 

🚨🚨 ¡EXCLUSIVO OLÉ: JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ, NUEVO JUGADOR DEL ATLÉTICO DE MADRID!

💰🇦🇷 La Araña deja el Manchester City y se convierte en nuevo refuerzo del equipo del Cholo Simeone a cambio de 80.000.000 de euros

📲 Más info en https://t.co/fmPuyKAb0a pic.twitter.com/Yb8GB2bxKI

— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) August 5, 2024

Olé reporting an 80 million EUR price tag, pretty considerable sum but arguably well worth it.

 

Messi is trying to get to the WCQ vs Chile and Colombia in September. All depends on his injury.

I don't see him not making the WC26, barring injury

Leo Messi, como siempre que juega Argentina, quiere estar en la fecha FIFA de septiembre. Si todo sigue transcurriendo en estos plazos de rehabilitación, Messi estaría en condiciones de participar. Todavía falta un mes para Argentina - Chile. pic.twitter.com/pcFBlHWmpN

— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) August 5, 2024

 

Here's how I look at it...in every WC we always take few useless players such as Palacio, Palermo, Pozo, Garce, Basanta,Campagnaro, Ansaldi, and even Cufre who's only contribution in 2006 was getting a red card after the match has ended.

I dont see why that 1-2 spots being reserve for Messi who surely will have 100 x more impact than those players regardless his physical strength at that point.

 

Messi just being there, even if he doesn't play, or only plays a minor role will be an inspiration for the other players. If he's fit he's going, he'll almost be like a player / coach.

 

He needs to be playing week in week out and that was never really going to happen at City with Halaand. He was linked with Arsenal which would have been a good move for him but I don't think they were going to pay the kind of money Atletico are.

 

You could tell the team played with an extra determination in CA final after he got injured. Its like they really wants to win it for him.

 

River are getting somewhere between $3-4M Euros for the resale (hopefully). It all depends how the sale is structured

https://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/...-river-dinero-city-atletico_0_htDC5XCO6T.html

 

🚨🔴⚪️ Understand Atlético Madrid have just improved their proposal to Julián Álvarez!

There’s difference around €2/3m between the parties with player’s agent, on it.

↪️ Diego Simeone, pushing to sign Julián and Conor Gallagher…

…up to Álvarez and Atlético Madrid. pic.twitter.com/jFlYAKGYWJ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2024

So, apparently PSG are offering much more in terms of salary for Julian. But I do think he'll just pick Atletico.

 

The deal is official, 95 ME with all the incentives and whatnot. Good grief.

He balls out for River, he is sold for chump change. Has a decent couple of seasons where he scores goals and does well in his limited of time but is sold for a fortune.

No idea how Atletico got the money for this deal. Did they sell-off players or something. Maybe Griezmann to the MLS might be happening and this will help their books?

Nevertheless, best of luck to Araña. I will be keeping my eye on him.

 

Cholo now has 4 Argentine WC & CA winners.

 

Soule and Dybala scored for Roma in pre season's game.

 

I'm not going to lie, just having Messi there for 10 minutes and maybe do some free kicks near the end would be huge; he's still a better playmaker while walking that most players are at full speed. Just as a leader in the dressing room he'd be a huge asset!

 

Here are some of Atletico's financial numbers I got from social media:

Income/Savings: $8.5M for Soyuncu, $13M for Morata, $45M saved in salaries for players who left (Morata, Savic, Memphis, Hermoso, etc.). $5M in old payments for players left in years past (Lodi and more). $70.7M capital injection by selling shares. $43M for the sale of Samu.

Total income/savings: $185M.

Spending: $35M for Le Normand, $32M for Sorloth, $40M for Gallagher, $75M for Alvarez (up to $95M with incentives)

Total spent: $182M.

The post also mentioned increased revenue lately from Champions League, additional/better sponsors, Club World Cup. Atletico had been sitting on some cash for a few years, not spending.

 

Lionel Scaloni speaks with Paulo Dybala, he could be called for September World Cup qualifiers. https://t.co/bzzwu3mNL8 pic.twitter.com/euWZePz6xD

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) August 8, 2024

 

Soule’s goal was especially nice; he had the assist to Dybala as well. Roma is must-watch TV this season, hopefully.

I hope Soule is quickly integrated in our squad.

 

Lionel Messi • Solo Runs 2009/10pic.twitter.com/I2j7nve7gh

— Oblivion (@Lionel10Prime) May 9, 2024

Messi’s this one season is probably better than 99% of other players’ whole careers. It really was bordering on the insane.

I had forgotten some of his runs against Brazil - and Higuain’s terrible miss from his pass in the WC that year.

 

Soulé is one of the few youngsters who is currently in Europe I am excited about. He’s definitely got a lot of skills in his boots. He has the makings of being a very exciting talent who can contribute to the seleccion.


I personally think he’s at the perfect place with Paulo and Leandro helping guiding him. He turned down a big money move to Saudi Arabia and even turned down the EPL, where I think he could’ve struggled to adapt. That move is now a bit too early for him.

Moreover, he won’t get the free kicks nor the penalties, so I hope people do not expect he’s gonna score 15-20 league goals. I think his mobility and skill set will open the game up for Dybala, who I hope can stay a little healthier than usual.


And yes, I do hope Scaloni calls him up. He’s already been on his radar. The time is now for Scaloni to integrate the players of the future. No more waiting around.