Football
Adriana Garcia 5y

Argentina omit Aguero, Di Maria as Messi starts ban

Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria have been left out of Argentina's squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Chile and Mexico as Lionel Messi begins his international suspension.

Argentina captain Messi is unavailable for selection as he serves a three-month ban from international football for criticising South America's football governing body CONMEBOL during the Copa America. Messi missed Barcelona's La Liga opener, a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Friday, with a calf injury.

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Aguero, who helped Argentina finish third in the 2019 Copa America, has scored in Manchester City's opening two league games but has been overlooked, while Paris Saint-Germain winger Di Maria is another veteran who manager Lionel Scaloni has omitted as he opted for an attacking line dominated by Serie A-based players for the games in Los Angeles against Chile on Sept. 5 and Mexico in San Antonio five days later.

Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, Juventus' Paulo Dybala and Joaquin Correa of Lazio have all been named in the 27-man squad which includes seven uncapped players.

There was a recall for Manchester United centre-back Marcos Rojo, who last featured for Argentina in their defeat to France in the 2018 World Cup round of 16, despite a lack of playing time.

Argentina are also deprived of Tottenham defender Juan Foyth, who has been sidelined since July with an ankle problem.

Scaloni has named 10 local-based players in the roster, five of which are uncapped. Among them is midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who joined Boca Juniors on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this summer.

Former Boca Juniors centre-back Leonardo Balerdi, now at Borussia Dortmund, has also received his first call up.

Argentina full squad: 

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River), Esteban Andrada (Boca) y Agustin Marchesin (FC Porto).

Defenders: Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Leonardo Balerdi (Borussia Dortmund), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Lucas Martinez Quarta (River), Gonzalo Montiel (River), Nicolas Figal (Independiente), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax).

Midfielders: Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Leandro Paredes (PSG), Guido Rodriguez (America), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Nicolas Dominguez (Velez), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Exequiel Palacios (River), Matias Zaracho (Racing), Roberto Pereyra (Watford), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Boca).

Forwards: Joaquin Correa (Lazio), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Adolfo Gaich (San Lorenzo).

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