Roma block Dybala and Molina from attending Messi's farewell | OneFootball

AS Roma have blocked Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from travelling to Argentina for Lionel Messi’s international farewell in Buenos Aires, prioritising Serie A commitments over the occasion.

The club said in a statement the decision was based on sporting and logistical factors, citing the length of the intercontinental trip and the proximity of fixtures, with Como to come five days after the match in Argentina.

Messi is set to end his Argentina career in a specially arranged friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental, but the pair will not be in the stands.

Dybala, 32, has featured alongside Messi 18 times for the national team, while Molina, 28, has played with him 53 times. Both were part of the squad that lifted the 2022 World Cup.

The restriction does not cover every Argentine at Roma. As they were not called up by Lionel Scaloni, Dybala and Molina must remain in Italy, whereas Matias Soule has been released after an official call-up for games against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin under FIFA regulations.

Roma stressed the move was not a slight, underlining their respect for Messi’s career and sending best wishes to him and the Argentine federation for the evening.

Source: Goal.com

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