Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista stated that Lautaro Martinez will be on the preliminary list of 50 players for the 2020 Olympics.

Fernando Batista revealed that the Inter striker will make the initial list of 50 while also hinting at other names. Some of the other names being mentioned along with the Inter striker are those of Juan Foyth and Exequiel Palacios. Should Lautaro be selected for the Olympics, he will also likely be picked for the Copa America which will be played before the Olympics in Japan.

Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here’s what Batista had to say:

“Come the moment in June, we will see how every one is doing to be able to pick the players in the best way possible. It’s difficult, there are a bunch of guys that are at a fantastic level.

“In the list of 50 players, I will put Lautaro Martinez, he is a player within the age limit. Today, there are a few players that are with the senior national team like Juan Foyth, Exequiel Palacios or Lautaro and one can pick them.”

In addition to the three names mentioned, Fernando Batista spoke about Lisandro Martinez, the man from Ajax:

“He was supposed to be in the last trip but because of the pandemic, he couldn’t leave the Netherlands. Not him, not Marcos Senesi. He wasn’t able to go to the pre-Olympics but he’s within the nominees. I like him as a center back. I saw him on the wing and he did well but I like him as a center back, where he’s always played.

“He gives you the possibility of being a center back, a full back or in the middle. When you have 16 outfield players, those players are sometimes important. As a coach, you evaluate these things and in those positions, he does well.”

Regarding clubs possibly not releasing players:

“We live with that all the time. There are coaches that left, like Tata. But you don’t have to get angry, you have to be prepared for that. Sometimes it hurts you more when it comes from the local league. Sometimes you’re planning something and it angers you. What I do is always look forward.”

As we reported earlier, Argentina will be one of four seeded teams when the draw takes on April 21 in Zurich.

Argentina will be one of four seeded teams at the 2020 Olympic games.

Fernando Batista’s team will avoid two of the top teams as well as the hosts in the group stages. The two time Olympic champions will be one of four seeded teams as they, along with Brazil, South Korea and hosts Japan are the top teams who will be in pot number one.

Pot number two will have Germany, Mexico, Honduras and Spain with pot 3 having Egypt, New Zealand, Ivory Coast and South Africa. The final pot has Australia, Saudi Arabia, France and Romania.

The two time champions will find out what group they will be in when the draw takes place on April 21 in Zurich. Argentina played two friendly matches at the end of last month vs. hosts Japan. They won the first one 1-0 with Adolfo Gaich scoring the winner but lost the second 3-0 in a less than stellar performance.