Messi, Garnacho in Argentina squad for U.S. friendlies

Lionel Messi will lead an Argentina squad that includes 4 gamers aged beneath 20 in two friendlies in the United States in March with the Copa América and Paris Olympics in thoughts.

One of the most important surprises of coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad named on Friday was 19-year-old left again and midfielder Valentín Barco. He joined Brighton lower than two months in the past and has had an impression on the English Premier League membership.

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The different three youngsters in the world champion squad had been forwards; Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte and Monza’s Valentín Carboni.

The number of 36-year-old Ángel Di María hints that the 16-year worldwide is eager to play in the Copa and Olympics.

Argentina will play El Salvador on March 22 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and Costa Rica 4 days later on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Argentina Football Association mentioned Thursday. Argentina had been initially scheduled to play Nigeria in Los Angeles, however shifted opponents one week later because of visa points.

Messi, Argentina’s captain, is now set to overlook Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer match on the New York Red Bulls on March 23.

Argentina’s two March friendlies exchange a China tour canceled after Messi did not play at Miami’s preseason sport in Hong Kong. Argentina had been scheduled to play Nigeria at Hangzhou and Ivory Coast at Beijing.

Messi mentioned earlier than Miami’s pleasant towards a neighborhood all-star workforce in Hong Kong on Feb. 4 that he was affected by a groin damage, and his absence sparked spectator anger. He performed three days later in Tokyo in an exhibition towards Vissel Kobe.

Argentina may even play exhibitions in towards Ecuador on June 9 at Chicago’s Soldier Field and Guatemala 5 days later at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, forward of defending their Copa América title in the U.S. this summer time.

Argentina squad:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Franco Armani (River Plate).

Defenders: Germán Pezzella (Betis), Nehuén Pérez (Udinese), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Valentín Barco (Brighton), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid).

Midfielders: Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Nico González (Fiorentina).

Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton), Valentín Carboni (Monza), Ángel Di Maria (Benfica), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Paulo Dybala (Roma).

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.