Argentina, facing its great rival Brazil, offered itself a ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Sunday evening, the hopeful selections of the two countries faced each other in Caracas (Venezuela) during the pre-Olympic tournament.
The Argentine U23s, coached by Javier Mascherano, won (1-0, goal from Luciano Gondou).
Brazil, gold medalists in Rio 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, will not go to Paris.
Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria could move there.
“Everyone knows my relationship with Leo, the friendship that unites me with him,” said Javier Mascherano.
A player like him has the doors open to join us, then it will depend on him and his commitments, obviously.
» If the Olympic Games pit the hopeful selections of qualified countries against each other, three players over the age of 23 per nation have the right to participate.
The Argentine coach would like, in addition to Lionel Messi, to attract another former Parisian.
Clasificados a los Juegos Olímpicos #Paris2024 👏👏👏
🇦🇷 ¡Vamos #Argentina!
🇦🇷 ¡Vamos #Selection!
🇦🇷
🏆 #Preolímpico #Sub23 #Venezuela2024 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/rHTwWAClSk
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) February 12, 2024
Angel Di Maria announced his international retirement at the end of the 2024 Copa America, which takes place shortly before the Games (June 20 to July 16).
But Javier Mascherano would like to make him his figurehead with the eight-time Golden Ball: “They have the right to decide what they want, but it is obvious that we will try to invite them and we will see.
I have an obligation to invite them.
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In recent weeks, the Argentine press has reported an interest from the two former Paris Saint-Germain players.
The story would be beautiful, since during the last Argentine Olympic title, in 2008 in Beijing, Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria were present.
The latter had also scored the only goal of the final, against Nigeria.