Carlos Tevez: call for national duty

Juventus striker Carlos Tevez, left out of Argentina’s World Cup squad, is poised to return to national duty for friendlies in China next month, Argentine press reports suggested Monday.

Tevez was shunted into the international wilderness by former coach Alejandro Sabella but his successor, Gerardo Martino, is keen to see the 30-year-old forward in an Albiceleste shirt again.

Juan Carlos Crespi, vice-president of the Argentina Football Association, told the Clarin newspaper that an application for a visa for Tevez had been lodged with the Chinese authorities.

This follows comments by Martino last week, when he said the striker would be in competition for the number nine shirt with Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City marksman Sergio Aguero.

Tevez scored 13 goals in 64 matches for Argentina between 2004 and 2011 before being frozen out.

He won Premier League titles with United in 2008 and 2009 as well as the Champions League in 2008 before adding a third English title with City in 2012.

His current club Juventus won the Serie A crown last season while in 2003 he lifted the Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors.

The Buenos Aires native is also a three-time South American player of the year (2003, 2004, 2005).

Martino took over from Sabella who stepped down after leading the two-time global champions to the 2014 World Cup final where they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra-time.