Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has explained his axing of Juventus striker Paulo Dybala.
Dybala is out of their squad for their World Cup qualifiers and most likely will now miss the Copa America.
Scaloni said: “As an Argentine, I can tell you that the Italian championship is always a point of reference for me. In Italy we have many Argentines who perform at a good level and that's why we call them, in addition to the fact that all of us on the staff are attracted by the model and culture of Serie A.
“There's no one more sorry for Dybala than me. Paulo is a player that I adore. But we need people who are ready and in a good shape. He had a difficult season, injuries prevented him from playing continuously. He came back too late, among other things in a complicated moment for Juve.
“If we had 26 players I would have brought him, but faced with such a narrow and complicated list we had to make this decision. But his value remains out of the question. I hope he'll soon recover his form and return to the national team."
