Rodrigo De Paul to remain with Inter Miami, will not rejoin Atletico Madrid

1. The next World Cup is only 6 months away. The draw has been made. Our first 3 opponents are known. It is not strange to see the first team selections of 26 players popping up. Some of the names in those list surprise me.

   The core of the team are Dibu, Romero, Enzo, McAllister, Alvarez, Lautaro and of course Messi. All of them are playing at a rather consistent and high level. If not injured, they will go to the WC.

   Otamendi (although he is too slow) and Tagliafico are two players that have been with the team a long time and still are in the starting line-up. Both will be in the list.

   Nico Paz is considered the best player in the Serie A. He is playing very well, scoring goals and giving assists. He must be on the list and potentially a starter as well.
   That is 10 players so far.

   Reserve keepers will be Rulli and one of three Bermudez, Cambeses and Rossi.
   That’s 12 names.

   Quite a few players of the winning team in 2022 have moved to leagues that are less competitive than the top leagues in Europe. Those include DePaul, Paredes, Acuna, Montiel, Pezzela.
   Assuming their good relationship with Messi, DePaul and Parades will join the team we have 14 names.

   Twelve more to go.
   Defence
   Balerdi is doing fine with Marseille, although he is not considered a top CB.
   Medina is not a regular starter.
   Anselmino has not got a chance yet. If not selected for March matches, he stands no chance.
   Senesi is doing well in the Premier League. A likely candidate.
   Foyth is not consistent. Great in some matches, flawed in others.
   Molina is not a regular anymore. He was outplayed time and again in this week’s CL match against PSV. Not good enough for the Argentina NT.

   We are going to need fresh blood at the back.
   Giay has been named on this website quite often, but is somehow ignored.
   Same for Bernabei.
   Barco was great at the beginning of the season. Now he sits on the bench.
   Lomonaco is a candidate, but has not played at the NT yet.
   Rivero is another talent from River Plate. Could be in the squad if he performs well in 2026.
   Conclusion: still much work to do for Scaloni, Samuel and Ayala.

   Midfield
   LoCelso is not a regular starter anymore. He is also injury prone. Past his prime. Unlikely to make the list.
   Nico Gonzalez does start at Atletico, but is rather inconsistent.
   Varela is doing well at Porto. Deserves a chance in March to prove himself.
   Equi Fernandez got injured at Leverkusen, but hardly made an impression in his first matches in Germany. Mostly passes sideways and backwards. No splitting passes forward. Could develop in a better player in the future.
   Palacios always struggles with injury. He somehow always shows up in list, but that seems to be due to history not to current achievements. Has to improve a lot in 2026 to make it.
   Simeone always works hard and can also play as RB. Not the most gifted player in terms of technique, but useful.
   Milton Delgado was easily the best player in the U20 WC squad. Great technique, good vision and hard worker. Should be in the squad.
   Echeverri was great in our youth teams, but somehow Pep Guardiola and his current coach at Leverkusen do not play him as a starter. Looks like an Ibagaza story and not a Saviola story unfolding.
   Perrone is improving at Como. Will it be enough? Hard to tell.
   Conclusion: many choices to be made by Scaloni and Aimar. Luxury problem.

   Attack
   Dybala is almost always on the bench at Roma. Can be great, but injuries usually intervene. Cannot play 8 straight. Sadly someone to be left out.
   Soule is a starter at Roma and a good winger too. Scores plenty of goals. Should be given a chance in March.
   Garnacho is picking up his form at Chelsea but still not at NT level.
   Mastantuono was given plenty of playing time early in the season but failed to make an impression. No goals, no assists and losing ball possession over and over again. He is bench warmer now. Will probably be loaned to a smaller team.
   Lopez did well at Palmeiras and given his height he will be an asset for crosses and corners.
   Panichelli did very well at Strasbourg but his level dropped after his first call-up.
   Castro is working very had at Bologna to get into the squad. He will be a back-up is others are injured.
   Conclusion: Scaloni and co can do cherry picking in this department.

   Overall: a good core but still many choices to be made.

   • Faire analysis especially if u add Barrenchae to the potential list. And I thought Barco is still a starter in Strasbourg? I will still stick with Soule over any of the Wingers followed by Simone and Nico (both versatile enough to be deployed as Wingbacks) while i would say Molina’s playing minutes has significantly enhanced which is a good sign by itself despite the usual defensive flaws. Finally it is a big yes to Parades and Depaul. It really is hard to imagine the team chemistry without them.

   • Incredible list of talent. Anyone Scaloni chooses will give the opposition a hard time.

2. We really need RB,

3. clearly a sub. Parades, DePaul, GLC can still be very useful & impactful subs. But Depaul should not be a starter anymore. Equi injury happened at wrong time

   • Paredes will be more useful than de paul and lo celso and personally i don’t think lo celso deserves to go world cup

4. I am fine as long as his level doesn’t drop.
   There are still 6 months to the WC, and if he continues to perform well whenever he is called to the national team, I am fine with it.
   But if the level drops, then there is concern, and Scaloni will then need to act on it.

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