José Pekerman, ex-Argentina national team head coach, has tipped Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono to be the heir to captain Lionel Messi in the Albiceleste.
The 76-year-old believes Mastantuono can come close Messi’s level in the national team in the near future, adding that he will make them win matches.
Messi, who is in the tail-end of his footballing career, recently admitted that he is close to retiring from the country’s national football team.
“I don’t know if someone will come who can replace [Lionel] Messi or who’s at a level close to his,” Pekerman told DSPorts Radio (via ESPN).
“I think Mastantuono is on his way to being a great footballer and to make history.
“The team [Argentina] has to be organized, but the one who’s going to make us win is this one [Mastantuono].”
Ex-Argentina manager José Pekerman names player to succeed Messi
