Argentina shocked: Scaloni close to leaving because of corruption and politics

The man who appeared out of nowhere and brought Argentina the long-awaited World Cup title with Leo Messi has entered the hearts of the Argentine people in a short time. But now those hearts are trembling because coach Lionel Scaloni is close to leaving the national team!

The situation in Argentina is alarming a day after the historic victory over Brazil at the Maracana.

"Things have piled up that I have to think about. These players have given me a lot. They gave a lot to the entire coaching staff. To the entire state and people. Now I have to think 'what next'. This is not a farewell or anything like that, but I have to think with a cool head. The bar has been raised very high and it is difficult to keep winning. I told the players, I will also tell the president that this national team needs a coach who has the maximum possible energy," Scaloni said after the victory over the Brazilians.

He posted a photo on social media with members of the coaching staff, one of whom said: "Let's take one last photo together."

The news that Scaloni is thinking about leaving the helm of the national team that he brought to the top of world football rang out like a bombshell.

Once a solid player for Lazio, Mallorca and some other clubs, he never had the image of a star, nor did he push himself to the forefront. After his playing career, the calm man from Santa Fe was an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli in Sevilla and the Argentine national team, and after the change of coach, he became the interim manager while waiting for a better coach.

No one gave him a chance that he would stay there, but he strengthened his position step by step from game to game with good games and results. He co-opted legends like Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel, Roberto Ayala into the coaching staff and got the chance to lead Argentina to the Copa America in Brazil in 2019.

They won third place and it didn't seem like Scaloni was the right solution, but he got another chance with the support of the locker room, which he protected as much as he could from harmful influences and parasites from the Argentinian football association. This was followed by a new continental championship in Brazil in 2021 where they defeated bitter rivals Brazil in the final at the Maracana to give Argentina the title after a 28-year wait. Then his rating went up. And then he realized the nation's dreams at the World Cup in Qatar and combined the titles of world and continental champion. He became one of the idols of the Argentine nation and a coach that Messi and company adore.

However, already after the world title and the crazy reception in the homeland, cracks began to appear in the relationship with the FA. First, there was several months of uncertainty regarding the extension of the contract. It was speculated that neither Scaloni nor the national team members are satisfied with the distribution of awarded money and how much of it was appropriated by the association, which for decades has been considered one of the most corrupt on the planet. It turned out later that even that promised part was not paid to the players and coaching staff because the FA was procrastinating and looking for excuses. By the way, Argentinian football is ran by President Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, who many compare to the famous and controversial Julio Grondona, who for 35 years controlled everything regarding Argentinian football.

In the months of post-World Cup celebration, Tapia still managed to reach a common language and sign a new contract with Scaloni until 2026, which at least briefly dampened the unpleasant situation. But it seems that the dissatisfaction is now even greater and that Scaloni no longer sees himself working with Tapia and the Argentinian football association.