Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi says Argentina coach Gerardo Martino is just making excuses not to call him up, after he was left out of his squad for the Copa America.
Martino justified his decision to omit last season's Serie A top goal scorer from his squad by lamenting the Inter forward's conduct off the field, referring to his marriage to the former wife of his ex-teammate Maxi Lopez, Wanda Nara.
He claimed that story could be a distraction, although Icardi responded at the weekend by saying he's just reading the wrong newspapers.
"He's the only person who keeps insisting about my presumed over-exposure in the media," Icardi told La Nacion. "In Italy, they only talk about my goals and my performances."
Icardi feels Martino is overreacting and that his relationship with Maxi Lopez and his wife is not the real reason for his exclusion.
"Martino insists that people only talk about me for what goes on off the field, but I think they're asking him why he continues not to call me up, despite all the goals I am scoring," Icardi said. "He's the only person talking about certain things.
"Let's be honest, the problem is my relationship with Wanda but only in Argentina people are still talking about it. Here in Italy, I've been hitting the headlines only for my goals in the past three years and that's the only reason I am in the papers almost every Monday.
"People talk about how many goals I score, how I play, how I move on the field. In Argentina, on the other hand, they're always digging for dirt and they continue to talk about me as the husband of Wanda Nara, that guy who stole the woman and ruined the life of a former teammate when it was never actually like that.
"Here, everybody keeps asking how come I'm not getting called up to the national team. My teammates, the bosses, the fans, the press -- they are all asking. It's not about there being too many alternatives either because there's only [Gonzalo] Higuain and [Sergio] Aguero who play in the same position as me.
"Only Martino knows the real reason and I wish he would do like Dunga, who just a few days ago came over to speak to the Brazilians. I wish Martino would come over and explain to me the real reason why he's not calling me up. The non-football related arguments are just an excuse."
Icardi, who has scored 16 times for the Nerazzurri in Serie A this season, nevertheless does not regret choosing to represent Argentina when he had the opportunity to play for Italy.
"I've got Argentinian blood running through my veins and I've always wanted to wear the shirt of my country," he said. "I don't regret anything. If I never get called up again, I'll just have to deal with it and I will keep the memory of having made my debut and at least played a few minutes for the Albiceleste."