Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni spoke highly about his squad’s Serie A stars Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
The Albiceleste are one of the favourites to win the tournament, which will likely be the last for seven time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. Both Lautaro and Dybala are in good form heading into the tournament, although the latter is still working off a recent hamstring injury, and they’ll be expecting to go far in Qatar.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Scaloni first gave his thoughts on Inter forward Lautaro and his importance to the Argentina squad.
“Lautaro Martinez was and is fundamental for us, he is a precious boy. He has given us so much both in the football aspect, with the goals, and in the human aspect. We knew he would be our striker, Kun Aguero initially helped him a lot.
“At Inter he did very well. We owe him so much because he gave himself completely to us and to the cause. He came to the national team even when he wasn’t in the best condition, he wanted to come, he wanted to be there. He is an example.”
He also spoke highly about Dybala and praised his decision to join Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the summer.
“Going to Roma was a very intelligent choice, the city is spectacular, I knew he could become an idol. There he found a coach capable of making the most of him.
“He has fitted in perfectly at Roma and then as a person he is spectacular, in the squad he is fundamental and we love him a lot.”
With Italy failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, many in the peninsula have pledged their support to Argentina, a nation that contains millions with Italian ancestry.
Other favourites for the tournament include Brazil, France, England and Spain.