Carlos Tevez has urged Lionel Messi not to retire from international football in the wake of Argentina’s disastrous World Cup campaign. Messi struggled under the weight of expectation in Russia as Argentina crashed out in the round of 16, leading to rumours he could retire from international football for a second time. But Tevez wants him to stay on and believes more could be done to get the best out of his country’s star man.
“I think Leo has to think about himself,” the former Manchester City striker said. “He has to think that, if there is not a project that makes him happy and in which he feels comfortable, it is very difficult to take the responsibility of leading Argentina to become champions by himself.We are wasting a lot of time not having him happy and not being able to give him a hand to achieve that target. I think we are wrong in not being able to help him feel comfortable.
As a player and as an Argentine I tell him that we need him, that he try to rest, that he keep a cool head and that we need him. We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and, as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way because he is Argentina’s biggest idol and he has to take that responsibility. Now [I tell him] to rest, keep a cool head and try to be well, then we need him to take charge and on the pitch.”