Argentina Coach Visits Barcelona, Chelsea, Man Utd Stars Before Naming World Cup Roster

Argentina national team coach Jorge Sampaoli jetted out to Barcelona, Spain on Friday to hold talks with the players he is planning to name on his 2018 World Cup roster.

According to reports in the Argentina media, including sports newspaper Ole, Sampaoli will travel to six countries, with his first port of call Barcelona, where he will hold face-to-face conversation with Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, who is in the city after undergoing an operation on Tuesday.

Other Spanish-based players he will visit are Ever Banega and Gabriel Mercado before he travels to England, where he will hold talks with Ramiro Funes Mori, Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Manuel Lanzini, Lamela and Willy Caballero.

In addition, Sampaoli will travel to the Netherlands, France and Italy for talks with Tagliafico, Di Maria, Lo Celso, Perotti, Fazio, Dybala, Higuain, Icardi, Biglia, Acuña and Salvio.

The La Albiceleste manager hinted that he will name seven domestic players on his provisional World Cup roster having met with Armani, Enzo Perez, Pablo Perez, Pavón, Bustos, Lautaro Martinez and Meza before his trip to Europe.

Nigeria will face off with Argentina at the 2018 World Cup on June 26 at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : afa.com.ar