Inter forward Joaquin Correa may well have given up participation in the World Cup in Qatar in order to make himself for his club during the weeks before the tournament.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who note that the 28-year-old missed out on the tournament with Argentina only due to an Achilles tendon problem which he likely never fully healed from in October and November.
There will be disappointment on Correa’s part that the former Lazio, Sevilla, and Samopdoria forward was not able to be part of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.
Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni decided to leave the 28-year-old out of the squad a few days before the tournament squad because he wasn’t convinced that the player would be close to fully fit, on account of a problem with his Achilles tendon.
As the Gazzetta notes, this was not exactly a new problem for Correa.
However, in the weeks prior to the start of the World Cup, the Argentine made himself at the disposal of Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
The longstanding injury to Romelu Lukaku meant that if Correa were to be out for an extended period, then the Nerazzurri’s ranks would have been relatively thin in attack.
Accordingly, Correa made several appearances during the period to ease the burden on Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez.
As the Gazzetta notes, however, the 28-year-old was almost certainly playing through some degree of injury and discomfort, and this is likely what cause him to arrive at the start of the World Cup break carrying enough of an injury as to be left out of Argentina’s squad.
