Lionel Messi is absent from the Argentina team for Friday's international friendly game against Italy in Manchester.
Messi
trained in the build-up to the match - which is being played at the
Etihad Stadium - but was left out by coach Jorge Sampaoli, who also
omitted regular goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Sergio
Aguero's knee injury means he is not available, with Juventus striker
Gonzalo Higuain selected in attack and Angel Di Maria and Manuel Lanzini
providing support according to teams listed on the Argentine Football
Association website
.
.
Paris
Saint-Germain midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is given a start, with
Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi and his former club-mate Willy
Caballero both picked, the goalkeeper making his international debut at
the age of 36.
While
Sampaoli has left out key names, Italy's side appears to be closer to
their strongest XI, with interim coach Luigi Di Biagio
selecting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after the 40-year-old reversed his
decision to retire.
Lazio
striker Ciro Immobile leads the line, with Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne,
PSG midfielder Marco Verratti and Inter winger Antonio Candreva also
picked.