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ESPN staff 8y

Angel Correa: Declining Argentina's call-up for Olympics would be 'crazy'

Argentina's Angel Correa says he had to persuade Atletico Madrid to let him play at this summer's Olympics and called those who declined an invitation "crazy."

The Albiceleste had planned on calling on many high-profile emerging stars for the even in Rio de Janeiro, but a long list of potential players, including Correa's club teammates Matias Kranevitter and Luciano Vietto, Everton's Ramiro Funes Mori, Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi and Juventus' Paolo Dybala will not be available to recently appointed coach Julio Olarticoechea.

The final 18-man squad for the tournament, announced last week and confirmed on Thursday, includes just three Europe-based players -- Atletico attacker Correa, Real Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini.

Vietto and Sampdoria's Joaquin Correa pulled out of the final squad and were replaced by Sao Paulo striker Jonathan Calleri and River Plate midfielder Joaquin Arzura.

Speaking to TYC Sports, Correa said he did not understand why someone would not want to play for their country in an international tournament, and he would be proud to wear the armband in Rio.

"I think those who do not want to be called up by the Argentina national team are crazy," he said. "I have been told I am crazy to come here now, but for me the crazy thing would have been to stay away. I would be proud to captain this team.

"Atletico were calling me every day to come back. But I stayed here. I had given my word I would play in the Olympics. My family is proud to see me wearing the Argentina jersey."

Correa said it had been difficult to convince Atletico to free him for the tournament, but coach Diego Simeone took his side.

"I had to tell them a month before the season ended that I wanted to come," he said. "Atletico kept calling me to come and do preseason with them. For me it is a dream to be here, and they have respected that decision.

"[Simeone] made an effort so that I could be in Rio, as he knew what the Argentina national team means for me."

Correa, 21, mostly played off the bench for Simeone last season, and he has been linked with a number of teams during the summer transfer window, including Barcelona, Juventus and Benfica, but he said he was planning on staying at the Estadio Vicente Calderon and winning a starting spot.

"The directors at Atletico want me to stay at the club and I am very happy," he said. "This year with Simeone I learned a lot. I am going to fight and look to win a place in the team."

The youngster said he expected Argentina's senior captain Lionel Messi to change his mind about international retirement as the Barcelona player would not want to leave the game, having not won a trophy with his country.

"We hope he returns soon, as he is someone who always achieves what he wants, and has said he wants to win something with the national team," Correa said. "So I don't think he will leave without having won a trophy with Argentina."

The full Argentina Olympics squad:

Goalkeepers: Geronimo Rulli (Real Sociedad), Axel Werner (Atletico de Rafaela)

Defenders: Victor Cuesta (Independiente), Lautaro Gianetti (Velez Sarsfield), Jose Luis Gomez (Lanus), Lisandro Magallan (Boca Juniors), Alexis Soto (Banfield), Leandro Vega (River Plate)

Midfielders: Joaquin Arzura (River Plate), Santiago Ascacibar (Estudiantes), Giovani Lo Celso (Rosario Central), Mauricio Martinez (Union de Santa Fe), Lucas Romero (Cruzeiro)

Forwards: Jonathan Calleri (Sao Paulo), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Espinoza (Huracan), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Giovani Simeone (River Plate)

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