Lionel Scaloni denies 'impossible' talk of attacker switching to Italy as World Cup winning coach hails him as Argentina's 'future'

The 21-year-old, who has represented Argentina at youth level, has not yet made a senior appearance for the Albiceleste, though he has been included in several provisional squads. His form at Roma since joining from Juventus in the summer of 2024 has only strengthened his case, with the forward emerging as one of Serie A’s standout performers this season.

His agent, however, recently cast doubt over his international future, hinting he could take advantage of his eligibility for Italy by declaring himself available for Gennaro Gattuso's side due to the wait for his Argentina debut. That notion has no relevance as far as Scaloni is concerned as he said the youngster will get his chance eventually.

“Soule called up to the Italy squad? I don’t think it’s possible; he’s been in our sights for some time,” Scaloni said during a press conference. “We see him as the future of the Argentine national team, and he’ll soon get his chances. He’s growing a lot and I’ve been following him for a while. If he continues like this, there won’t be any problems." 

According to reports in Argentina, Scaloni even called Soule personally to reassure him that he was always part of the national team's plans.

The speculation emerged after Soule’s agent publicly questioned Argentina’s selection policy, suggesting that his client could switch his allegiance to Italy. 

"Argentina has never called him, yet so many young players have made their debuts in recent months. Matias deserves a chance for what he’s doing at a major club like Roma,” the agent said in an interview with LaRoma24. “What if the situation doesn’t resolve itself? He can legally be called up by Italy; anything is possible."

Soule had previously turned down an approach from former Italy coach Luciano Spalletti, reports say, with the attacker’s dream being to play for Argentina, and Scaloni’s latest remarks suggest it's just a matter of time before he gets his chance.

With the speculation now settled, attention turns to Argentina’s ongoing preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The reigning champions face Puerto Rico in Miami, Florida after edging Venezuela 1-0 in Miami last week. Superstar Lionel Messi missed that game due to club commitments with Inter Miami, and it remains to be seen whether he will feature in the second friendly.

Scaloni is expected to rotate his squad, offering opportunities to younger players like Soule in the coming months. The 21-year-old could finally make his senior debut before the end of the year, potentially in the next international window. For Argentina, the goal remains clear, to build a competitive core for their World Cup title defence in North America next summer.