Juan Román Riquelme says Argentina should just let Lionel Messi pick the coach and the squad

Argentina still doesn’t have a manager, and we still don’t know whether or not Lionel Messi will ever play for them again. Legendary playmaker Juan Román Riquelme has an interesting solution to both problems: just let Messi pick the manager.

“In my humble opinion, they should ask Messi who he wants as coach of Argentina,” said Riquelme.“ The coach should put the team together with Messi, make sure he is happy because he is the only one who can lead us to victory. The coach should even be asking him who he wants on the team.”

Riquelme’s argument is that with a short turnaround time from call-ups to games, national teams can’t mesh like club teams. Therefore, the best player should be surrounded by the coach and players he’s most comfortable with in order to get the most out of him.

It makes sense, but players getting more power than coaches rarely goes well at any team, in any sport. And there’s also the matter of the Argentine FA not having a real structure or any money at the moment.

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Bayern has blocked England from appointing assistant Paul Clement. (Guardian)

Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis: “We some broke boys.” (Telegraph)

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Tom Wood on the very cool history of Hajduk Split. (Futbolgrad)

Jamie Fahey on the English FA’s changes to youth coaching. (Guardian)

Please don’t take anything in this section too seriously, for your own sanity.

Manchester United bid £100 million for Paul Pogba and expect to sign him this weekend. (Guardian)

City thinks they’re going to sign John Stones for £50 million. (Mail)

Chelsea has made a £38 million bid for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. (Sky)

Valencia would likely accept €25 million from Arsenal for Shkodran Mustafi. (Mirror)

Sevilla is interested in signing Sebastian Rudy and Eduardo Vargas from Hoffenheim. (Bild)

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MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal (7:30 p.m.) -- Always silly. Always worth watching.