Scaloni had to ‘apologise’ to his son for not calling up Dybala | OneFootball

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says Paulo Dybala is his younger son’s ‘idol’, so he had to apologise for not calling up La Joya for the 2024 Copa America.

Argentina coach Scaloni apologised to one of his sons for not calling up Roma star Dybala for the Copa America last summer.

“My son is in love with Dybala. He celebrates like Dybala,” Scaloni, a former Lazio defender, told Neura Media.

“I often had to apologise for not calling him for the Copa America.”

Scaloni had to ‘apologise’ to his son for not calling up Dybala

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 22: Lionel Scaloni Head Coach of Argentina at the start of the International Friendly match against El Salvador at Lincoln Financial Field on March 22, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Getty Images)

Scaloni was talking about the influence that big players have on young people.

“If somebody doesn’t behave well, they [kids] will imitate what this player does on the pitch,” he noted.

Dybala is unavailable for Roma’s match against Bologna on Sunday, and according to reports in Italy, he was upset about missing the Europa League game against Union St-Gilloise on Thursday.

Dybala rejected a move to big-money move to Al Qadsiah FC last summer but has only scored twice in 12 appearances across all competitions this term.

His contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires in June 2025, but he has an option to extend it until 2026 if he makes 55% of his appearances in his three years at the club.