Tottenham could find themselves significantly impacted by a late Marcos Senesi call-up to Argentina’s World Cup squad ahead of the tournament.
The central defender, who is set to officially join Spurs on July 1 after departing Bournemouth, was initially left out of Lionel Scaloni’s squad selection.
However, an injury to one of Argentina’s key defenders has opened the door for a dramatic U-turn on Senesi’s omission from the squad.
An official Argentina statement on Saturday confirmed the setback, reading: “Defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg and will not be able to be part of the squad that will play the World Cup.”
The statement concluded with a personal message to the injured player: “Chin up, strength, and a speedy recovery, skinny!”
According to ESPN Argentina, Senesi is among several names being considered as a replacement for the stricken Balerdi ahead of the tournament.
Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Capaldo, Agustin Giay, Kevin Mac Allister, and Martinez Quarta are also reportedly under consideration for the vacant spot in the squad.
Of that group, Senesi and Quarta are the only two natural centre-backs, suggesting one of the pair will step in to replace Balerdi in the final squad.
German Pezzella, the River Plate team-mate of Quarta, is another option available to Scaloni as he weighs up his replacement choices.
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, and Facundo Medina are the other central defenders already confirmed within Argentina’s World Cup squad.
Senesi’s original exclusion came as a considerable surprise given the impressive season the 29-year-old delivered at Bournemouth prior to his move.
He had featured in Argentina’s squad for the March international fixtures, making his absence from the initial World Cup selection all the more unexpected for many observers.
The World Cup final is scheduled to take place on July 19, 2026, with pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 campaign due to begin officially just weeks later.
Should Argentina progress deep into the tournament, Senesi would almost certainly arrive at Hotspur Way later than Tottenham had originally planned or anticipated.
The Lilywhites had been in pole position to sign Senesi on a free transfer since April, though interest from other Premier League clubs had raised concerns about a potential hijack.
Reports now indicate he has undergone his medical and subsequently signed a four-year Tottenham contract, with the defender set to join Andy Robertson in north London next season.
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