Merentiel’s agent slams Bielsa months before World Cup | OneFootball

Just 96 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Uruguay National Team is struggling to find institutional peace. Amid the uncertainty over the final list for the group that "La Celeste" will share with Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde, a new criticism has erupted towards Marcelo Bielsa's management.

The Complaint of "The Beast"

Marcelo Tejera, representative of Miguel Merentiel, expressed his frustration over the limited opportunities the Boca Juniors forward has had under the Rosario coach's tenure. "If it's about Miguel's play, we expect the call-up; but if it's about what Bielsa has shown, he doesn't consider him much. I'm realistic: neither playing well nor so-so... he was only called up once," Tejera stated in an interview with Carve Deportiva.

The current performance of the striker in Argentine football has not been enough to convince the coach. To date, Merentiel has only accumulated 45 official minutes with the senior team, recorded in the goalless draw against Venezuela in September 2024.

A Cycle Marked by Turbulence

The agent's criticism adds to a process that, after a strong start in the Qualifiers, began to unravel after the 2024 Copa América. Between the departure of historical figures like Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, and a noticeable drop in the team's scoring effectiveness, Bielsa's relationship with the Uruguayan football environment is going through its most tense moment.

For his part, Merentiel himself has maintained a more cautious stance. At the end of 2025, the forward acknowledged with self-criticism: "If I'm not getting the call-up, it must be for a reason. I have to keep working at Boca and correcting things." However, time is running out, and the list for the World Cup seems to be closing without "The Beast's" name in the main plans of "El Loco."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.