Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza must 'seduce' Lionel Messi - Jorge Valdano

Former Argentina forward Jorge Valdano has said coach Edgardo Bauza must "seduce" Lionel Messi with his ideas if the Barcelona star is to reconsider his decision to retire from international football.

Former Sao Paulo manager Bauza was appointed on Monday to replace Gerardo Martino, who stepped down after the penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.

It was a third successive defeat for Argentina in a major tournament final, and saw Barcelona star Messi make the shock decision to retire from international football.

Bauza said one of his first tasks would be to fly to Europe to speak to Messi and other senior players about his plans ahead of World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela next month.

Ex-Real Madrid player, manager and sporting director Valdano told Fox Sports show 90 Minutos that communication between Bauza and Messi would be key.

"The coach must seduce him with his ideas, with a project, with confidence," he said.

"There must be good communication, and he must challenge him to recover his pride in wearing the Argentina jersey, even though the atmosphere is sometimes not favourable."

There are fears over how some albiceleste fans will react should Messi reverse his decision, but Valdano said he believed good performances on the pitch would help calm any anger.

"What is fair or not fair does not matter," he said. "The fans have the right to have their say. But Leo can change things with his actions in every game."

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