During Monday's training session of the Argentina National Team at the AFA complex, ahead of the match against Brazil at the Estadio Más Monumental for the 14th round of the Conmebol Qualifiers, alarms went off in Lionel Scaloni's coaching staff due to a player's physical condition.
The player in question is forward Santiago Castro, who was on the bench in the victory against Uruguay and played minutes in the friendly against the Under-20 team at the Ducó stadium. According to reports, the Bologna forward from Italy suffered a blow to one of his ankles during practice, which casts doubt on his presence among the substitutes for the match against Brazil.
Santi Castro se perdería el clásico
In the coming hours, Scaloni and the medical staff will assess the progress of the Vélez product to determine if he can be an option in the attack or if he will have to be removed from the squad. If Castro is unavailable, Juan Foyth and Máximo Perrone appear as options to take his place, as both players were left out of the bench in the match against Uruguay.
Additionally, if his absence is confirmed, the National Team would lose a forward option and wouldn't have a center forward among the substitutes. To reinforce the attack, Scaloni will have Ángel Correa, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, and Benjamín Domínguez as possible offensive alternatives.
Argentina's possible line-up to face Brazil
With a question mark in the midfield, the Albiceleste would take the field as follows:
