Sergio Batista performs Carlos Tevez u-turn as he prepares to include Manchester City striker in Copa America squad – report

Carlos Tevez celebrates having scored for Argentina against Mexico (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Players

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez could make a shock return to the Argentine squad in time for the 2011 Copa America, as Albiceleste coach Sergio Batista prepares to name a preliminary list of players for the July tournament, according to reports from the country.

The icon of the nation’s football had seemed to be all but of the reckoning for the Copa, after Batista declined to meet with him on a tour of Europe and left him out of every squad in 2011. ‘Carlitos’ even went public last week to declare his unhappiness with the situation, telling the media that he had not even spoken to his international coach.

This week however the pair met as Tevez returned to Buenos Aires on holiday following the end of the English season, and talked for the first time about the striker’s international future.

Further to this, reports released by Telam and TyC Sports claim that Carlos is set to be named in a 24-man list of players announced by ‘Checho’ on Tuesday afternoon, including him amongst six strikers who will initially be considered. Batista will then cut that list down to 22 by June 26 to finalise his chosen men for the Copa America.

River Plate goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo also looks likely to make the cut, he and Oscar Ustari pushing out Catania’s Mariano Andujar in the battle to join Sergio Romero in the squad. Lanus’ Diego Valeri and Enzo Perez of Estudiantes are the other locally-based players predicted to make it at least in the provisional list, taking two of the seven places allocated to midfielders.

Likely squad for the Copa America*

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Oscar Ustari (Getafe).

Defenders: Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Nicolás Burdisso (Roma), Javier Zanetti (Inter), Nicolas Pareja and Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Emiliano Insua (Galatasaray).

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Ever Banega (Valencia), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Diego Valeri (Lanús), Enzo Pérez (Estudiantes de La Plata).

Delanteros: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ángel Di María, Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Atlético Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City).

*To be confirmed Tuesday May 31