Middle-aged man with a beard and mustache, brown hair, wearing a dark jacket and jersey, smiling in front of a blurred background.
ARGENTINA

Caruso Lombardi chose the best player from the Argentina National Team, and it wasn't Lionel Messi.

The coach and panelist highlighted a player over the Number Ten as the most important player on the national team

Ricardo Caruso Lombardi doesn't lose the habit of saying what he thinks, and this time he did it again, true to his style. In an interview with the program Dupla Técnica, the historic Argentine coach was asked in a quick-fire question round about the best player in Argentine soccer, but his answer was doubly surprising.

"Who is the best player in Argentine soccer?" he was asked. Caruso, believing he should refer to the Argentina National Team, answered without hesitation: "Dibu Martínez, from here to Liniers and back".

Goalkeeper of the Argentine national team with gloves raising both arms in a stadium full of spectators
For Caruso, Dibu is the best player on the Argentina National Team | La Derecha Diario

He then added a forceful justification: "We owe him everything. The National Team owes him millions of things. Very few times has a player moved me as much as he has, without any doubt".

The praise for the world champion goalkeeper quickly went viral, especially because Caruso left out Lionel Messi, the undisputed captain and star of the Albiceleste squad. However, it was all the result of a misunderstanding.

When the interviewers clarified that the question was about local soccer, Caruso wasn't bothered. He took a few seconds to think and gave another clear and direct answer: "Miguel Merentiel", the Uruguayan forward from Boca Juniors.

Soccer player in a blue and yellow uniform celebrating a goal in a stadium full of fans while opposing players watch in the background
For Caruso, Merentiel is the best player in Argentine soccer | La Derecha Diario

About his choice, he explained: "I like him a lot because he has self-respect, he goes for every ball. He's one of the players I like the most. He has learned a lot".

The truth is that Merentiel has been one of the most consistent figures for Xeneize so far this year, with 8 goals and 3 assists in 28 matches, and his commitment in every match has been recognized even by the fans. Currently, the Uruguayan is one of the few standouts amid the sporting and institutional crisis that the club presided over by Juan Román Riquelme is going through.

➡️ Argentina

More posts: