Nicolas Otamendi has joined Benfica from Manchester City, signing for three seasons.
After five years at the club, the 32 year old defender is back in Portugal. Winning every major trophy in English football, Otamendi leaves for €15 million. He won two Premier Leaguee trophies, an FA Cup, four Football League Cups and two Community Shields.
Otamendi has been selected by Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Argentina defender Walter Kannemann has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Argentina and Gremio defender has tested positive with the Argentina Twitter account announcing it. No news on if Lionel Scaloni will add another defender from the Argentine league.
#SelecciónArgentina ¡Mala noticia para Scaloni! El defensor de Gremio se contagió de COVID-19, estará aislado por los próximos quince días y no viajará a disputar las primeras dos fechas de las Eliminatorias. 🇦🇷🦠👎 pic.twitter.com/spr5CORTK0
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) September 29, 2020
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has stated that he has the starting eleven in mind and per a report, it would be an attacking team.
Lionel Scaloni will likely go with attacking players for their first World Cup qualifying game against Ecuador next month. Per a report by TyC Sports, this would be the starting eleven:
Armani, Montiel, Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico, De Paul, Paredes, Dybala, Messi, Ocampos and Lautaro
Argentina national team Lionel Scaloni spoke about next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Lionel Scaloni commented on the lack of training his team will have for their games next month. Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here’s what he had to say:
“Unfortunately, there won’t be any useful training’s to get out of the team. I already have it in my head and there isn’t much time to try things.
“We lose almost a day and a half just to bring them all. You have to wait for the last one to play, to bring them in, to get the tests done and only then will we be able to train. Our first training would be Tuesday afternoon and we would play on Thursday night. It’s complicated but it’s the same for everyone and it touches the plans.”
Regarding the planning:
“Thanks to the AFA president, the people around him and their dealings, we are going to have everyone on a charter flight. That way we avid any complications and that’s what we proposed to the clubs. We have not received any confirmation from any club that they won’t release a player.
“We have a good base we we probably didn’t have in the past. Before, we used to look for the guys able to wear the Argentina national team and that they could play. Now, there are seven or eight players, off the top of my head that are part of the base and just as many of them are pushing. We have a great competitive spirit, we make things difficult for everyone but we can’t trust ourselves.
“The World Cup qualifiers are difficult and even more with everything going on and that it will be played without the fans.”
Lionel Messi scored for FC Barcelona in their 4-0 win vs. Villarreal.
With all the news and reports that Messi would be leaving the club, he would stay and would score in their opening game. Despite not being at his best, Messi managed to get a goal and an assist.
Messi would score a penalty kick to give Barcelona the 3-0 lead. He would also send in a cross which would result in a Villarreal own goal.
17 – Lionel Messi has become the fourth player in LaLiga history to score in 17 consecutive seasons, after Agustín ‘Piru’ Gaínza (19), Carlos Alonso, ‘Santillana’ (17) and Sergio Ramos (17). Infallible. pic.twitter.com/IBZyvC0RGZ
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 27, 2020
