Jorge Sampaoli’s lawyer has confirmed the Sevilla Coach wants the Argentina job but his club insist there’s been no contact.
Fernando Baredes, Sampaoli’s confidante, told Argentina’s Estudio Futbol that Sampaoli would like to take over the national team but doesn’t know if it will happen, in part because of the cost of getting the trainer out of his recently-signed agreement with Los Rojiblancos.
“Sevilla don’t want to share him. He’s learning about this by the media, who are always one step ahead of what’s happening. If [Argentine Football Association President] Armando Perez didn’t call, someone close to him did,” Baredes said, AS reports.
“It’s an economically difficult time for the AFA. I don’t think they have the ability to pay for Sampaoli and Sevilla for the signing. He’s eager to take the job and always will be. I won’t deny it, he wants to coach the national team, but he is very busy now, he’s very responsible and he will fulfil his contract 100%.
“The offer comes at an inopportune time. Sevilla won’t share him. A Coach can’t have two contracts without the club’s authorisation.”
Sevilla sporting director Monchi, meanwhile, gave the club’s take on events and insisted there was no approach from the AFA and that, to him, Sampaoli appears committed to the task at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
“We are proud that our Coach is the object of desire of the Argentina team. Beyond that, Sampaoli has a contract with Sevilla. And what I see every day and when I talk to him is that he is totally involved here. I haven’t seen changes from day to day. And yes, I feel greater pressure on a daily basis to improve his squad,” Monchi noted, Marca reports.
“No one from the AFA has contacted us and asked. I know that the Argentina team is discussed every day there and this has caused a lot of commotion.”
