Tottenham-bound defender Marcos Senesi has been unexpectedly included in Argentina's final 26-man World Cup squad. He has been called up as a direct replacement for Leonardo Balerdi, who sustained a serious muscle tear in his right leg during a recent training session.
The injury to Balerdi has forced a last-minute alteration to manager Lionel Scaloni's plans, with Senesi now en route to join the team's base camp in Kansas City. Senesi, who has previously represented Argentina three times internationally, had also previously rejected an opportunity to play for Italy.
This call-up sees Senesi linking up with some of Argentina's biggest stars, including Lionel Messi. He will also be playing alongside his future Tottenham teammate, Cristian Romero, in the Albiceleste defence.
Argentina, who are the current reigning champions, are in the midst of their preparations for the upcoming tournament. Their campaign is set to begin with an opening match in Group J against Algeria. The team also has fixtures scheduled against Austria and Jordan.
The team's management has officially confirmed Balerdi's unfortunate injury. They also highlighted the careful and thorough selection process undertaken to identify Senesi as the ideal replacement. The emphasis is now on ensuring the new defensive partnership can swiftly establish cohesion and rhythm before the World Cup campaign officially kicks off.
