Claudio Gugnali on Colón's kids and Messi: 'He'll be at the World Cup' | OneFootball

Speaking with the program ADN on Radio Gol 96.7, the current AFA Youth Teams from the Promotion divisions head coach, Claudio Gugnali, gave details about the U-17 National Team’s preparation for the 2026 South American Youth Games in Panama. With the squad confirmed, the coach highlighted the presence of three young Colón players and shared behind-the-scenes details of his recent conversation with Lionel Messi.

The Sabalero “talent pipeline” in the National Team

Gugnali confirmed that three players from Colón’s youth academy are part of the final 18-man squad that will travel to Panama this Friday. The coach gave a technical description of each one:

“Colón keeps supplying us with players. It is a huge responsibility to represent the National Team internationally with kids drawn from the promotion divisions,” Gugnali said, also praising the work of the new youth development structure at the Santa Fe club.

Inside the meeting with Messi: “He’s in”

One of the standout moments of the interview was his account of his recent visit with Lionel Messi at the AFA training complex. Gugnali, who was part of Alejandro Sabella’s process with the Argentine star, was emphatic about the captain’s future:

“For me, he’ll be at the World Cup, no doubt. That’s how I felt, and I saw him looking very good on the pitch,” he stated. He also revealed details of their private conversation: “We talked about family and his time in Miami; he told me he’s very happy, not like in Paris, where he suffered.” The coach highlighted Messi’s humility, noting that “he doesn’t ask for anything” and that his legacy with the National Team is unforgettable: “I saw him cry in Brazil and in Qatar; he truly cries for the National Team.”

Logistics and competition in Panama

The Argentine delegation leaves this Friday at 5:00 AM for Panama (p. 2). The U-17 group stage schedule is already set:

A divided heart

When asked about the upcoming match between Estudiantes (where he is a club figure) and Unión (a club he coached), Gugnali responded with humor and emotion: “Those are the matches I want to end in a draw. I’ve always said it: my mother never lets me down, but my girlfriend does,” he joked about his affection for both institutions.

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