Scaloni has called up both Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone, as well as the Nerazzurri Toro, for the friendly match, but the first three will not go due to the health protocol
On November 26th at the Metropolitano the battle will be very Argentinian: Atletico barricadero del Cholo, with a deep albiceleste soul, against Inter led by captain Lautaro, top scorer in Scaloni’s Argentina. Between the subtle differences on the pitch and the variants that will affect that Champions League match, however, no one had thought about… vaccines. They are necessary to enter Angola, the country that will host the friendly match of the world champion national team on Friday, but not all of those called up by the Argentine coach have duly completed the vaccination cycle. Scaloni regularly called both the three compatriots who play in Madrid (Julian Alvarez, Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone) and the Nerazzurri Toro, but he had to surrender to the medical protocol: a curious rift has thus been created between those who will be able to travel to Africa and those who will stay comfortably in Europe. In detail, the athletes Julian, Molina and Simeone junior were excluded from the list because they did not complete the procedures related to the mandatory vaccination against yellow fever in time: in officially communicating this, the Federation explained that the trio will be able to stay in Madrid during the break, without stress and without any risk. Unlike his next Champions League rivals, Lautaro will fly to Luanda to play the friendly match: for his part, the Inter player completed the vaccination cycle in Milan in recent days.
the derby before the champions
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He will only arrive in Appiano next week, but first he will have to “manage” a long journey, a change in climate and some logistical difficulties. Let’s be clear, Martinez loves his national team and would never have voluntarily shirked it, but it is obvious that the difference with his Atletico colleagues risks being a factor in the preparation for the Cup match. Before the trip to Madrid for the match at the Metropolitano, on Sunday 23rd there will be the Milan derby, not the easiest of matches, while Atletico will play away to Getafe just before hosting the Nerazzurri.
THE STRANGE FRIENDLY
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There will be time to work off the fatigue of the long transfer and get back to European football, but one thing is certain: Simeone will immediately find Alvarez, Molina and his son Giuliano fresher than Toro will be for Chivu. Moreover, the friendly match against Angola is very particular: it will be played in Luanda, at the “11 de Novembro” stadium, in the context of the celebrations for the anniversary of the country’s independence. In practice, it will be a political and sporting showcase designed to show a modern Angola in front of the world champions. And with an avalanche of money involved: to secure Messi (regularly called up), Lautaro and the rest of the Selección (Nico Paz the only other “Italian”), Angola would have agreed to pay Afa a sum close to 12 million euros as a fee for the event.
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