Argentina boss, Gerardo Martino gave a revealing interview with La Nación in which he gave a firm indication that Carlos Tevez is very much back on the national side radar, as well as discussing several other players and speaking out about his time at Barcelona.

Martino’s predecessor, Alejandro Sabella found no room for the controversial figure of Carlos Tevez in spite of the usual public outpouring of support from the Argentine public.

However, the stance of Martino appears much softer and the 51-year-old, former Barcelona manager spoke at some length on the polemic subject of El Apache.

“If I have to say where I imagine Tevez in my game plan, it is only at Number 9, There is no other position and he will be in competition with Higuaín and Agüero, and then it is the coach’s choice.”

However that is not to say that Martino disagreed with the decision of Sabella, “I will not be taking four No9s to the World Cup, so for me, the decision of Sabella (not to take Tevez) was not illogical,”

Tevez, as expected, has started the season with Juventus in fine form following a first season in Italy where he finished as top scorer for the league champions. However, he is never to reproduce this form for the national side so his inclusion or exclusion will again spark debate.

Among a host of other topics, Martino gave a thinly veiled warning to Mauro Icardi, as he was asked about the young striker and said he prefers “footballers who are footballers. I am not to say what you do with your life.” 

Certainly based on these comments, Icardi has a little work to do to break into the squad despite his hat-trick at the weekend.

On the subject of his control of the Argentina under-20s: “It seems to me that it is an obligation of the manager. I do not know if there is any interference, but who knows how we are going to play. There has to be a similar way of playing“.

Martino was also critical of Barcelona over how little they knew about him after being appointed: “It was a difficult year. I don’t know if I hurt, but it was difficult. It was accelerated learning. When I arrived, I was too unknown. It surprised me, the degree of ignorance“.