Time or negotiation? Because Tapia and Scaloni have not yet signed the renewal of the Argentine national team manager

First data. On December 31, the contract that unites Lionel Scaloni and his technical staff to the Argentine Football Federation expires. Only five days left.

Second data. After spending a few days in Pujato, Santa Fe, Scaloni has recently traveled to Mallorca, the Spanish island where he has lived with his family since he retired as a footballer. The coach and soul father of the already glorious Scaloneta unleashed another moment of madness among the fans who met him at Ezeiza airport. But he didn’t say a word about his immediate future.

Third data. “I have no doubts that he will continue to be the coach of the Argentine national team,” warned Claudio Tapia, president of the AFA, who yesterday visited San Juan, his home province, where he arrived to offer him the World Cup, that Lionel Messi and company won just over a week ago in Qatar, at the Difunta Correa, as he promised after winning the Finalissima, at Wembley.

Fourth data. “He left on a trip due to a passport problem of one of his children and when he returns to the country we will talk about it, as we did until yesterday”, clarified Chiqui Tapia to deny the rumors after the meeting with the Governor of San Juan. Sergio Unac.

The million dollar question: will Scaloni continue to be the coach of the national team?

The million dollar answer: Everything is on track to make it so. However, the distances are not as far as the many thousands of kilometers that separate Mallorca from Ezeiza’s property, but not even as close as those declared by the president of the AFA from San Juan. But better to go in parts. And build this story back to the very beginning of the relationship.

Scaloni, who was part of the technical staff of George Sampaoli shipwrecked at the 2018 World Cup in Russia – he was in charge of analyzing the rivals and was the assistant who had the greatest and best link with the team -, he took the helm ad interim when the national team was left without a head. Not only did he take up the hot iron, but he did it with luck: he managed the Sub 20 team that was crowned champion at the L’Alcudia tournament. That positive result allowed Tapia to renew the merit of taking charge of the senior team, even on an interim basis, and thus completing a series of friendlies that the AFA had signed up to the end of 2018. And it didn’t go badly at all : victories against Guatemala (3-0), Iraq (4-0) and Mexico (a pair of 2-0), a 0-0 draw with Colombia and only one defeat against Brazil (0-1).

Thus, between the scandals on the Boca-River and the final of the Copa Libertadores which finished in Madrid, Tapia has decided to confirm Scaloni in charge until the end of the 2019 Copa América. “It is important to know what we want for all of our national teams. We have seen the work of Lionel Scaloni and, consequently, we will offer him the continuity of him until the Copa América “said Tapia, who that same day presented the managers with a pretentious national team project that would cover the next 10 years. “The goal is to avoid that the processes are interrupted in the face of a change of coaches and, therefore, all the work depends on a surname and not on the institution”, reads the booklet delivered to the media present at the Ezeiza headquarters .

The rest of the story is a little easier to remember. Third place in the 2019 Copa América in Brazil left everyone satisfied and laid the foundations for La Scaloneta with a group starting to coalesce around Lionel Messi. So much so that the AFA has decided to ratify him in office, as usual, until the end of the Qualifiers for Qatar. There, after the defeat against Brazil in that Copa América, the great story began to be built. Not only has the ticket for the appointment in the Middle East been reached. But they also won the 2021 Copa América and Finalissima at Wembley to build a 36-match unbeaten run that would end with their World Cup debut.

However, before the game hinges, Tapia was quick to announce that the cycle would have a second part. All without knowing that the story would end in the best way. Just three months ago he had marked the field on his social networks announcing a word “agreement” for the coach until 2026.

“I am proud to tell you that we have organized Lionel Scaloni’s continuity as coach of Argentina until the 2026 World Cup. We continue to bet on the global team project. There is Escaloneta for a while!!”, the president had posted on September 28 on his Twitter account. Tapia’s enthusiasm was not matched by Scaloni, who preferred to avoid commenting on the subject after the friendly against Jamaica (3-0) in New Jersey. The reason? The DT was focused on the World Cup that was coming. This was not the time to negotiate a contract.

“Scaloni is the coach of the national team. We are both men of our word, we agree on our word. When we chose it, 99% thought we were wrong or even crazy. But this national team has brought happiness back to the people with the three scudettos won.”Tapia observed this Monday, in San Juan. And I add: “We have a Selection for 8 or 10 years. In the end we were the only one in which all the outfield players played and in none of the 7 games did we repeat the formation. In Argentina we have the best coaching staff in the world”.

All roads lead to renewal. Indeed, the establishment has left its position in full view. “Renovale, Chiqui, let’s go,” Dibu Martínez yelled, with the AFA president at his side, as he emptied a bottle of champagne over the DT’s head.

However, nothing will happen automatically as claimed by Chiqui, who bagged after the adventure in Qatar 2022 $52 million in prizes among the succulent rewards of FIFA and Conmebol. The time for negotiations is coming. And it makes sense. Just as it is also logical that the economic needs of the technical staff are greater after leading the national team.