Sampaoli confirms Argentina intent

Jorge Sampaoli has confirmed that he plans to leave Sevilla for Argentina but assured he would not have taken the Barcelona job.

Sampaoli was linked with the Argentina post last summer but ultimately stuck with Sevilla, having only been in the role for a month.

However, the 57-year-old admits “this time is different” as he waits on his club and country to thrash out an agreement.

“I have a contract that will be resolved by the AFA and the President of Sevilla,” he said at a Press conference for the Andalusians’ final game of the season on Saturday against Osasuna.

“I’m not leaving Sevilla for another club, I’m leaving Sevilla, if it happens, for my national team. It’s a change linked to my heart for my country.

“The Sevilla project and taking the club into the title race in this second year were very exciting, but this [chance with Argentine] came up.

“I was very clear with the President and the club’s people. I didn’t leave last summer because I had to lead the new squad that I built with Monchi. I couldn’t leave what I had helped put together.

“This time is different. I didn’t believe that this possibility of the national team could be revisited.

“This has to be resolved now. It couldn’t have been before because we were playing a lot of things.

“Today I can sit down to evaluate and dicuss things, but it’s not in my hands because there’s a contract that has to be resolved between Sevilla and the AFA.

“I decided not to talk about a subject that wasn’t my responsibility before. There’s a very important link between this shirt and me.

“AFA paying my release clause? Certainly, there have been other possibilities, but I won’t get into them.

“In the last few months, I’ve had six opportunities to go to other European teams and they knew about the clause.

“Berizzo my successor? I know him, I have great respect for him, he’s been in La Liga for three years and done well with Celta.

“Still, I’m not the person to say who’s the ideal Coach for Sevilla, that’s for the people in charge.”

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