\n
W<\/span>The football world is still waiting to see where Lionel Messi will play next season, but one of his teammates in the Argentina national team has already made his final decision. Experienced centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has confirmed he will retire from the national team after the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n\n
\nLionel Messi makes a difference with his goal at Yankee Stadium<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNicolas Otamendi to retire from Argentina national team after World Cup<\/h2>\n World champion and Argentine defensive stalwart Nicolas Otamendi, one of the most successful centre-backs currently plying his trade on the Old Continent with Benfica, has been clear about his future at La Albiceleste.<\/p>\n
\nAfter the World Cup, the cycle with the national team will come to an end. This is my last World Cup and I’ll be a fan again from then on.<\/p>\n
Otamendi<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe 38-year-old defender understands that the end of his national team career should come at a high point and there is no better scenario than the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Beyond his international retirement, Otamendi’s future with the club remains uncertain. Although the possibility of a transfer was mentioned, the player did not go into details.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to add any more words… I have a contract with Benfica and it ends in June,” he said, leaving open the possibility of deciding his next step afterwards.<\/p>\n
Even when faced with rumors linking him to Argentine football, and River Plate in particular, he gave a short but suggestive reply: “We’ll see.”<\/p>\n
Enzo Fernandes talks about Lionel Messi’s retirement from Argentina national team<\/h2>\n Chelsea’s captain lamented Otamendi’s announcement, stressing his importance to the team and how much he helped him during his time at Benfica.<\/p>\n
\nObviously Ota means a lot to us, especially to me. He helped me a lot at Benfica. He’s a great person and a great teammate. If he decides and decides, I will enjoy these few months with him<\/p>\n
Enzo Ferndes<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nEnzo Fernandes also spoke about the possibility of Leo Messi retiring from the Argentina national team.<\/p>\n
\nI don’t know the end, I don’t know if it’s the end. We always strive to enjoy every moment to the fullest with Leo in our national team<\/p>\n
Enzo Ferndes<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nMac Allister echoed Enzo’s comments, noting that “it’s always good to play with Leo,” but lamenting that the Finalissima was not held due to conflicts in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WThe football world is still waiting to see where Lionel Messi will play next season, but one of his teammates in the Argentina national team has already made his final decision. Experienced centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has confirmed he will retire from the national team after the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi makes a difference with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-27468","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-latest"},"yoast_head":"\n
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