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Javier Mascherano joins player and team development of Argentina national teams

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Javier Mascherano is back with the Argentina national team but in a different role.

Mascherano, who played over 100 matches with the Argentina national team, will now be helping off the pitch. It was announced on Tuesday that he is now in charge of the methodology and development department. The idea will be presented in the upcoming weeks.

Per reports, his role will be that of having to adopt a common style of play and physical approach between the senior team and the youth teams. In addition, he would also be in charge of finding talent.

Having just recently retired, Mascherano joins former Argentina team mates Lionel Scaloni, Roberto Ayala and Walter Samuel to name a few, who have made the transition from player to a management role within the Argentine federation.

Marcos Rojo agrees to leave Manchester United for Boca Juniors

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Marcos Rojo is set to leave Manchester United for Boca Juniors.

Rojo has been rumored to leave Manchester United and it looks like it will be a club back in Argentina. After having spent part of last season on loan at Estudiantes de la Plata, Martin Arevalo is reporting that everything is set and agreed for the Argentine to join the club.

Per the report, Rojo would join on a three year deal. Still only 30 years of age, Rojo joined Manchester United shortly after the 2014 World Cup where he played several matches for the club and was a starter at one point. Since the 2017-2018 season, Rojo has only taken part in 27 matches for Manchester United.

Copa Libertadores preview, Boca Juniors, River Plate semi final first leg

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Boca Juniors and River Plate will both play the first leg of their respective semi final matches this week as both will look to book a spot in the final.

We could be getting a repeat of the 2018 Copa Libertadores final should both teams be able to get through their Brazilian counterparts. River Plate host Palmeiras on Tuesday in their first leg match. The four time champions have made the final for the past two years, lifting the trophy in 2018 but losing out last year to Flamengo.

Marcelo Gallardo has named his squad for the match:

Franco Armani, Enrique Bologna, German Lux, Javier Pinola, Robert Rojas, Paulo Diaz, Milton Casco, Gonzalo Montiel, Enzo Perez, Leonardo Ponzio, Bruno Zuculini, Santiago Sosa, Nicolas De La Cruz, Jorge Carrascal, Ignacio Fernandez, Cristian Ferreira, Rafael Borre, Julian Alvarez, Matias Suarez, Federico Girotti, Benjamin Rollheiser, Lucas Beltran

Many familiar faces with the likes of Franco Armani and Gonzalo Montiel who have recently been called to the Argentina national team. Veterans such as Enzo Perez, Leonardo Ponzio and others have also been capped for the national team.

For Palmeiras, the Brazilians do not have one Argentine on the team.

Carlos Tevez will look to send his team into the final to lift their seventh Copa Libertadores championship. The last one they conquered was in 2007 having lost the 2018 final. Boca coach Miguel Angel Russo is yet to name his squad for the match as they play on Wednesday. Just like Palmeiras, Santos have no Argentine players on the team.

Lionel Messi provides career assist number 300 in Barcelona 1-0 win

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Lionel Messi provided career assist number 300 in Barcelona’s 1-0 win vs. Huesca.

Messi has not only surpassed Pele in becoming the player with the most goals for a single club but he has reached another milestone in his illustrious career. The Argentine managed a cross pass to Frenkie de Jong who scored the only goal of the match. This was also Messi’s 500th game in La Liga and the 50th stadium in which Messi has given an assist. Of those 300, 185 of them have been in the league.

With the Argentina national team, arguably no bigger assist than that of the Round of 16 at the World Cup against Belgium for Angel Di Maria.

Paulo Dybala scores for Juventus in 4-1 win vs. Udinese

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Paulo Dybala scored for Juventus in their 4-1 win vs. Udinese.

Dybala, like Lautaro Martinez, started 2021 with a goal. The Argentine started the match for Juventus while Ignacio Pussetto, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo de Paul and Juan Musso started for Udinese. With the score at 3-1, Dybala was played in one on one with Musso as his right footed shot beat Musso for the fourth goal of the match.

That goal was only Dybala’s second in the league this season. He now has two goals in his last three matches.