The playmaker has taken on greater responsibilities in a youthful Albiceleste line-up since the captain went on post-World Cup sabbatical
Juventus’ Argentina star Paulo Dybala has expressed his desire for Lionel Messi to end his international sabbatical and rejoin his Albiceleste team-mates.
Messi’s last game for Argentina came on June 30, when the South Americans were knocked out of the World Cup by France at the last 16 in a 4-3 thriller.
Since then the Barcelona man has focused exclusively on his club, declining inclusion in any of the three squads prepared by interim coach Lionel Scaloni since Russia.
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That absence has allowed Dybala further playing time, with the Juve playmaker impressing on Friday as Argentina downed Mexico 2-0.
But on the eve of a second clash against El Tri, ‘La Joya’ admitted that he cannot wait to see the Albiceleste captain back in the set-up.
“We want him to come back,” he told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.
“We know what he means to us, but [the decision] is not up to any of the players.”
Scaloni, who has been tipped by some to take the job on a permanent basis after three months filling in for the sacked Jorge Sampaoli, has spearheaded the arrival of a new generation of Argentina players.
Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Mauro Icardi, Leandro Paredes and Gio Lo Celso are just some of the young talents who have seen regular game time in the absence of the likes of Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria.
But Dybala insisted that he is not the standard-bearer for his generation, and that fans will have to be patient with an inexperienced squad.
“We are young kids, we have only just started and we need the people’s support. We do not know what is going to happen further ahead,” he added.
Dybala has appeared on 16 occasions for his national team, but is still waiting for his first goal in Albiceleste colours.
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