Lionel Scaloni set aside the idea of a certain departure and once again raised the possibility of continuing as head coach of the Argentina national team, whose contract expires in December.
The Albiceleste coach said he is fully willing to sit down and negotiate a contract extension with Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), though he clarified that several details still need to be worked out.
“I definitely want to stay here,” Scaloni said after Argentina’s practice at the national team training facility in Ezeiza, where the team is preparing for its upcoming friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin.
The coach, who in July had hinted that his tenure was over following the defeat in the final of the last World Cup, now acknowledged that he will have a conversation with Tapia in the coming days to discuss his future.
Scaloni also made it clear that his continued tenure is not guaranteed and that agreements must be reached on various points.
“This is a dream come true, but it doesn’t mean I have to stay forever. There are some conditions we need to discuss with the president, and we’ll see if we can reach an agreement,” he explained.
When asked whether the contract renewal would depend on financial or sporting factors, the coach replied that it would be “a little bit of everything.”
The statements come after several Argentine players publicly called for the coach to stay on. Among them is Cristian Romero, who will take over as captain following Lionel Messi’s retirement from international soccer.
During his tenure, Scaloni led Argentina to one of the most successful periods in its history, winning the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments.
Scaloni Prepares for Argentina’s Transition
While he figures out his future, the coach has begun working on revitalizing the Argentine national team in light of the departures of Messi, Nicolás Otamendi, and other players who, due to their age, will not make it to the next World Cup.
“These matches give the young players a chance to make their mark. If these young players are here, it’s because they’ve earned it. They should make the most of it,” Scaloni said.
Among the new faces called up are defenders Tomás Palacios, Román Vega, and Valentín Gómez; midfielders Tobías Andrada, Ezequiel Fernández, and Santiago Simón; and winger Leonel Flores.
Argentina will face Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba. They will then take on Burkina Faso and Benin on October 3 and 6, respectively, at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Messi Will Play His Final Match
The match against Benin will hold special significance, as it will be Lionel Messi’s final game in an Argentina jersey after the forward announced the end of his international career in late August.
Scaloni reflected on what it meant to coach the Argentine star and highlighted both his performance on the field and what he represents off it.
“Being able to coach him was the best thing for me. It was a dream,” said the coach, who also noted that it will be very difficult to ever see another player like Messi.
The Argentine ended his time with the national team as the all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals, including 21 in World Cups. In the last World Cup, he played in all eight matches and scored eight goals.
Messi has also won eight Ballon d’Or awards and is once again nominated for the prize, which will be presented on October 26.
For Scaloni, the Argentine deserves to win the award once again. “After the World Cup he had, there’s not much more to add. If the award is for the best player, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.
