Scaloni Comments on Matías Soulé's National Team Future
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni addressed the potential inclusion of promising young talent Matías Soulé in the senior squad. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, October 13, 2025, ahead of Argentina's friendly match against Puerto Rico, Scaloni confirmed that Soulé is firmly on the national team's radar. 'Soulé is on our radar, like so many other young players who we believe can contribute to the team,' Scaloni stated.
The coach highlighted that Soulé, currently playing for Roma in Serie A, has been monitored alongside other emerging players such as Facundo Buonanotte, Alejandro Garnacho, and Valentín Carboni. Scaloni emphasized that these young talents are seen as having a future with the national team and will be called up 'as and when we see that they have the potential.'
Recent discussions had emerged regarding Soulé's dual Argentine and Italian citizenship, with his agent suggesting a possible switch to the Italian national team if an opportunity with Argentina did not materialize. However, Scaloni firmly dismissed this possibility, asserting, 'I don't think it's possible, he's been in our sights for quite a while.' He reiterated that Soulé is considered 'part of the future for the Argentina national team, and he will have his chances soon.'
Messi's Availability for Puerto Rico Friendly
Coach Scaloni also provided an update on Lionel Messi's availability for the friendly match against Puerto Rico, scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Messi had been granted permission to miss Argentina's previous 1-0 victory over Venezuela to play for his club, Inter Miami, where he scored two goals in a 4-0 win against Atlanta United on Saturday.
Scaloni confirmed that Messi has since rejoined the national squad. Regarding his participation in the upcoming friendly, Scaloni stated, 'I saw him play on Saturday, but I haven't spoken to him yet. Now we have our last training session and as we always do, I'll talk to him and if he's fit, he'll play tomorrow.' The decision on Messi's playing time will be made after assessing his fitness during the final training session.
Friendly Match Details
The international friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico was originally slated to take place in Chicago. However, due to logistical and security considerations, the match was relocated to Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This fixture is part of Argentina's preparations for upcoming international commitments, allowing Scaloni to evaluate both established players and new prospects.
The match against Puerto Rico is seen as an opportunity for Argentina to maintain rhythm and for some of the 'new guys' to gain valuable minutes and make an impression for future call-ups. For Puerto Rico, the match represents a significant opportunity to compete against the reigning world champions and gain valuable experience.
5 Comments
Fuerza
Scaloni's emphasis on building a future team with talents like Garnacho and Carboni is commendable. However, the true test lies in consistently integrating these players and providing them with meaningful minutes, not just monitoring them.
Manolo Noriega
Soulé is definitely part of the future. Scaloni's long-term vision is unmatched.
Fuerza
These friendlies are a good opportunity for fringe players to gain international experience. Yet, playing against significantly weaker opponents doesn't truly prepare the main squad for high-stakes competitive matches.
Ongania
It's positive that Scaloni acknowledges young players like Soulé are on the radar for the future. However, continuously delaying call-ups could make promising talents reconsider their national team options.
Fuerza
Soulé should be playing already, not just 'on the radar.' Don't lose him to Italy!