Scaloni and Messi's future: 'He has earned the right to decide when he retires.'

During a conversation with journalist Pablo Giralt for TNT Sports, Lionel Scaloni, the coach of the Argentina National Team, made several statements regarding the current situation of the national team and topics that have sparked debate in recent days: the future of Lionel Messi, the controversial date of the Finalissima, and Ángel Di María's goal in the Rosario classic.

Regarding "La Pulga," who stated a few days ago that the match against Venezuela will be the last official game he will play with the Albiceleste on home soil, the coach commented: "Let's enjoy Messi while we have him, we shouldn't think about what will happen in the future. He has earned the right to decide when he will retire, we must let him. He still makes a difference, that's how the stars are".

Regarding the organization of the Finalissima that the National Team will play against Spain, Scaloni was critical of the date selection: "There was time to play it earlier. For us South Americans, the Nations League killed us because it's their tournament," he pointed out. He added: "I didn't think a match of such importance would be played two months before the World Cup. Everything is very much hanging in the air and we need concrete things. We'll see if it gets confirmed".

Finally, the coach referred to the impact of Di María's return to Argentine football and the goal he scored against Newell's in the classic: "I had mixed feelings about Di María's goal against Newell's, but I was very happy for him," Scaloni confessed, who was trained in Lepra's youth divisions.

He concluded with an emotional statement: "He's a spectacular, noble kid. It seems like his story was written".