‘Lionel Messi does not pick my team!’ – Argentina boss denies Barcelona striker forced him to exclude Mauro Icardi
Inter Milan forward Icardi is believed to be frozen out for stealing wife of Messi's mate Maxi Lopez
ARGENTINA boss Edgardo Bauza has been sensationally forced to deny that Lionel Messi influences his team selection.
The rumours of Messi's involvement in choosing the squad date back to the days of previous boss Gerardo Martino but have strengthened after a run of poor results for the national side.
In Argentina's last three qualifiers they have drawn in Peru and Venezuela and lost at home to Paraguay, leaving them outside South America's four automatic World Cup qualifying spots.
The solution, for many Argentines, is Inter striker Mauro Icardi.
But picking him comes with one huge problem.
Icardi's wife, Wanda Nara, ditched his former mate Maxi Lopez to be with him.