Former Argentina forward, Carlos Tevez urged Lionel Messi not to retire from international football despite a disappointing FIFA World Cup 2018 with Argentina and believes the country still needs him.
Argentina crashed out after a 4-3 defeat against France in the round of 16.
Messi struggled under the weight of expectation in Russia, as Argentina crashed out in the round of 16. And, it led to rumours he could retire from international football for the second time. But Tevez wants him to stay on and believes more could be done to get the best out of his country’s star man Tevez told ESPN,
“I think Leo has to think about himself,” Tevez told ESPN. “He has to think that if there is not a project that makes him happy and in which he feels comfortable. It is very difficult to take the responsibility of leading Argentina to become champions by himself. We are wasting a lot of time not having him happy and not being able to give him a hand to achieve that target. I think we are wrong in not being able to help him feel comfortable.”
Moreover, Tevez also advised his former team-mate to keep his head calm.
“As a player and as an Argentine I tell him that we need him, that he try to rest, that he keeps a cool head and that we need him. We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way because he is Argentina’s biggest idol and he has to take that responsibility. Now [I tell him] to rest, keep a cool head and try to be well, then we need him to take charge and on the pitch.”
The fallout from the World Cup debacle saw Jorge Sampaoli leave his role as Argentina manager. Argentine Football Association (AFA) are favouring Peru boss Ricardo Gareca as a potential replacement.