There were emotional scenes at Lionel Scaloni’s latest press conference after a brutal injury was confirmed.
The coach is reading one final Argentina friendly before they defend their World Cup title in the Americas, but he’ll be without a key option.
Joaquin Panichelli has recently emerged as a new star for the nation and is Ligue 1’s top scorer with Strasbourg, but he won’t be travelling due to an ACL injury.
Speaking about the 23-year-old who has just one senior cap, Scaloni got surprisingly emotional before making it his final question and leaving.
“It’s very difficult. We’ve spoken with him,” he began.
“Even after he received the test result, he wanted to come to the Ezeiza training complex when he could have stayed at the hotel.
“It was all very emotional, very emotional… Everything he said was right: he didn’t deserve it. Just like nobody does.
“But he, in particular, is a hard worker. He had earned it. And that’s what I told him: he’ll have another chance. He already had it.”
“F***, Nico (press officer)” he finished, calling for his colleague to take over as he walked off to applause.
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