clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Argentina ‘optimistic’ Lionel Messi will return in 2019

The Barcelona captain is on a break from national duty

France v Argentina: Round of 16 - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni says he’s “optimistic” Lionel Messi will return to the national team in 2019.

The Barcelona captain has not featured for Argentina since the 2018 World Cup, but Scaloni says he’s due to talk to the 31-year-old.

“I do not talk very often with Messi, but we have a relationship,” he said.

”We are going to try for him to join us in 2019, we have pending talks and we are optimistic that it will be positive.

”For us it is something important. Any coach would like to coach him, myself more than any.”

Source | FourFourTwo

Scaloni replaced Jorge Sampaoli in the Argentina hotseat on an interim basis and will continue to take charge of the team until after the 2019 Copa America.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Barca Blaugranes Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of Barca news from Barca Blaugranes