Gerardo Martino didn’t call to Mexico National Team a striker because he partied with Lionel Messi

Gerardo “Tata” Martino revealed the list of 29 players that are part of the roster that will face USMNT, Honduras and El Salvador in the last World Cup Qualifiers match window next week, where the absence of Rogelio Funes Mori is one that stands out the most.

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Although Funes Mori's absence has to do with an injury he's dealing with, before it was made public that he was not going to be able to make it to the FIFA match window, Martino was considering not calling him given his poor performances.

His place was taken by Santiago Giménez, who has become an essential player for Cruz Azul and Juan Reynoso's scheme, as he's scored two goals and assisted one time in the past month, earning a starting role he hadn’t had in a while.

But Martino decided to keep Henry Martín as the third striker of El Tri, even if he's performed in a similar way than Funes Mori and hasn't contributed to the Aztec squad. And with his call, he also left out of El Tri one of the most promising Mexican strikers: Diego Abreu.

Why did he party with Messi?

The Mexican striker revealed during an interview that he was invited to Luis Suárez wedding, alongside his father Sebastián “Loco” Abreu, where he was able to share experiences and was advised by Lionel Messi, who is good friends with Suárez.

Although he’s yet to debut with Uruguayan side Defensor Sporting, Abreu has scored 108 goals in the academy categories he’s been part of, which is why he’s waiting for a chance to be called to a national team, as he can also play for Uruguay or Italy.

Will he choose to play for Mexico?

The 18-year-old striker has made his process with Mexico National Team academies, but at the end of last year he received his first call to play for the U-20 Uruguay National Team, where he played three games and scored one goal before tearing his ACL.

A few months before that, he played with El Tri in the same category, and he’s even stated that he hasn’t closed the door to the Aztec squad, although he’s not been contacted by FMF after his last participation.

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