One more day, yet another rant by Diego Maradona. But this time, he seems to have a point.
During a TV show on Thursday, legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta revealed he was snubbed by half of La Albiceleste's players during the most recent international break, following a visit to the team's locker room after the game against Chile. Batistuta was Argentina's all-time top scorer before the 2016 Copa América, when Lionel Messi surpassed his goal scoring tally with La Albiceleste.
"It would have been nice for them to say hello, and not because of who I am, but only because I played there and I know how it feels like to be in their place. Either way, maybe they did not feel like it, and that's that," "Batigol" stated in an interview with TyC Sports.
Batistuta led Argentina to its most recent international title, a Copa América win against Mexico in 1993.
Maradona was the first to step up and show some support for the team's former all-time top scorer, blaming coach Edgardo Bauza for the snub.
"I wanted to cry when I heard what happened to 'Bati'. Even my grandson Benjamin knows who he is. It's outrageous to know that some players snubbed him. Either way, it should be the coach's duty to share with the group who he was and what he had done for the team," Maradona stated.
Striker-turned-pundit Mario Kempes also backed Maradona's words. "If the players disrespected Batistuta, then they also disrespected the National Team," he claimed.
Argentina is still struggling to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. As of now, La Albiceleste would need to enter a play-off to secure their spot in the global tournament, since they are ranked fifth in the CONMEBOL WC Qualifiers.
