Nahuel Molina’s return to the Argentina national team has hit a bureaucratic wall, with AS Roma officially refusing to release the right-back for the upcoming friendly against Costa Rica. Although Lionel Scaloni included Molina in his latest squad announcement following a strong start to the Serie A season under Daniele Gasperini, the call-up arrived after the international release deadline. Consequently, the club has informed the player that he will remain in Rome to prepare for the critical league fixture against Parma, effectively blocking his participation in the November 17th match.
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The situation is complicated by Molina’s recent disciplinary history with the Albiceleste, which saw him serve a reduced four-match suspension following an appeal by the Argentine Football Association after the World Cup. He was already suspended for Argentina’s November 14th clash with Uruguay at La Bombonera, meaning his availability for the Costa Rica game was the only remaining window for immediate action. However, Roma’s decision underscores the club’s commitment to maintaining squad depth and fitness for their domestic schedule, prioritizing the November 21st away trip to Parma over a non-competitive international friendly.
Molina has accepted the club’s decision with professional respect, focusing his energy on the upcoming Serie A match. This development highlights the ongoing tension between national team managers seeking maximum player availability and clubs protecting their competitive interests during the congested winter schedule. For Scalini, the absence of a key defensive pillar in the friendly is a minor setback, but for Molina, the focus now shifts to cementing his status as a starter in Gasperini’s system and ensuring he is fully fit for the domestic grind.
Source: Yahoo Sports
