This is how the Department of the Argentine National Team works, which captured the youth summoned

The new names that Scaloni included in the Albiceleste list are added within the framework of a project that began in 2020 at the initiative of Bernardo Romeo, Coordinator of Youth Selections of the AFA, and carried out by Juan Tassi. In dialogue with TyC Sports, both revealed details of the initiative.

The Pre-call of the Argentine National Team with so many youthWhat Franco and Valentin Carboni, Nicolas Paz and Alejandro Garnacho, to mention a few, is not an isolated event. Although since the start of his management, Lionel Scaloni has been characterized by citing several footballers off the radar, in this case, many of them have been followed for a long time in the framework of a project that began in 2020.

When bernard romeo assumed as Coordinator of the Youth Teams of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in January 2020in his head he already had the plan for the most promising footballers who are scattered around the world will not fall under the radar or be tempted to represent another country and the first step consisted of a novel and ambitious idea: tobrir a Scouting Department in Europe.

For this, just a few months later, he summoned Juan Martin Tassiwith whom coincided in Quilmes between 2011 and 2012, one as a striker and the other as a physical trainer for the professional team. In turn, in the curriculum of the brand new incorporation there are steps through San Lorenzo and Estudiantes de La Platain addition to registering a master’s degree in High Performance Sports and a doctorate in Sports Sciences, both degrees obtained in Spain, the country from where he carries out the scouting task.

“I thought of it based on the number of Argentines who went to Europe as children, especially Italy and Spain, or who are children of Argentine parents. It was something that had never been carried out and it is fundamental. Little by little we began to recruit names and put together a database”details Romeo in dialogue with TyCSports.com.

It does not mention it, but it is evident that the remembered match that was quickly organized by the AFA, at that time led by Julio Humberto Grondona, against Paraguay at the end of June 2004 so as not to lose Lionel Messi set a precedent. Coincidence or not, the one who “recruited” Leo was Hugo Tocalli, for whom Romeo has no praise.

Once Tassi assumed her new role They went on to carry out a census of soccer players. Through the help of the different institutions, they managed to draw up a first list with a little more than 300 names. “We confirmed what we knew: that there are a large number of children of Argentine parents living in Europe and playing high-performance soccer, in clubs that are important in the different leagues of each country. As a result of this survey we were able to deepen how many they were and their realities”synthesizes Tassi to TyCSports.com.

As for the level, beyond the fact that it varies according to the category in which each youth performs, they found what they expected. “In Argentina the level is very good like here, there is not much difference in that, but taking into account that many times it is believed that in Europe everything is first world, we were surprised to see clubs that are from the First Division and have no infrastructure ”, says.

Although the coronavirus pandemic was an obstacle at the beginning, after returning to competitions the evaluation began to take the expected course and, from Spain, Tassi assembles the match compacts of as many youth players as possible and then uploads them to a platform to which all trainers have access: Diego Placente, Pablo Aimar and Javier Mascheranoand even his collaborators, besides Romeo.

“We try to get material from as many guys as possible, although sometimes it’s hard to get pictures. In those cases I go to see them live when they compete and then I start putting together a report for the technicians “adds Tassi and completes: “The idea is to analyze the team in which the player is, which is the division in which he trains and also in which he competes, because sometimes they are not the same. Obviously, the follow-up goes deeper into those who can be selected in the short term for a tournament of their category.. For example, If the Sub 17 has a tournament scheduled on its calendar, the analysis focuses on who is closest to that tournament ”.

But in addition to the main function for which it was born, The Scouting Department also serves so that a representative of the AFA is in contact with Argentines abroad, regardless of the fact that some of them later do not get to wear the Albiceleste shirt. “There are many boys, the issue is that later you have to see if they are up to the task of being able to play in a Sub 20 or Sub 17. In the meantime you have to follow them all and observe them”sentence Romeo and Tassi adds: “Since it is an Argentine National Team, a filter must be made, a pre-selection of the young people who have their best participations or performances in recent times and with that have a much more defined job with some”.

The follow-up is not only limited to football, but also the intention is that young people and their families have the support of the AFA, despite the distance. Tassi usually visits the boys and tells them what the initiative is about, as well as letting them know that they will evaluate their development.

The project is just taking its first steps and the new names that are beginning to appear show that everything is going smoothly. “This is a way of supplying the coaches, the idea is to nurture each other so that the coach of the Major, in this case Lionel Scaloni, has the possibility of summoning more and more boys”resume Romeo.

To finish, Tassi reveals the next step they will seek to take. “The intention is to be able to make pre-selections with boys who play in Europe and that the coaches of each category can travel to see them circumstantially, without having to travel to Argentina, even that they can participate in a tournament. In that sense, the project is ambitious and we hope to be able to meet all the expectations we have”close.

Bernardo Romeo, in depth: Pekerman’s legacy, the importance of a federal team and the historical conflict with the clubs

Romeo, Aimar, Placente, Scaloni and Walter Samuel they not only coincide being part of the Argentine National Team, each one in their position, but also all of them were the “students” of José Pekerman. Since they joined, everyone was clear that they wanted to continue with the legacy that the current coach of Venezuela transmitted to them when he directed them at different stages.

“What I experienced with José was very nice and also for Pablo, Lionel, Diego and Walter, even they played much more than me in the Major -He played 4 games and scored a goal-. Now we try to transmit those values ​​to the boys. It is very clear that we all want to win, but not always in any way and it is important to train the boys, that is our mission “emphasizes the scorer who was champion of the Malaysia U20 World Cup 1997.

Another of the objectives that Romeo set for himself when he took office has to do with the fact that the boys from all the clubs can be evaluated by the National Team’s work team, which is why on more than one occasion they have organized friendlies with Colón, Unión and the Commission of Children’s Activities (CAI), to name a few. “With the boys we travel a lot and we want them all to have the same chances. There are very good kids everywhere, we are a very big country and we seek to open doors and give opportunities to youth from the interior”he assures.

But regardless of what Romeo and his team project, they may have to face one of the historical complications that the last U20 coaches went through, which in this case will be Javier Mascherano: the refusal of the institutions to transfer players for the different competitions. “It is somewhat complicated -recognize-. In addition, many are in First or Reserve, but We will try to change that attitude because if a youth is called up to the National Team it is a benefit for him, but also for the club, so we all have to make an effort to change that behavior. We will look for ways to find time to do the best work possible, without that you can’t do magic. You have to take advantage of the time to work and saydiscuss with the leaders so that, for example, they understand the importance of preparing to compete in a South American tournament”.

Photo: AFA and Juan Tassi.