Atlético Madrid trio Julian Alvarez, Nahuel Molina, and Giuliano Simeone, will miss Argentina national team's international friendly due to not having received the yellow fever vaccine..
2025-11-12 11:11
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on its official website on Tuesday that three Argentine national team stars, all currently playing for Atlético Madrid — Julian Alvarez, Nahuel Molina, and Giuliano Simeone, will miss Friday's international friendly against Angola due to not having received the yellow fever vaccine.
According to the AFA's official statement, the African government has mandated vaccination against yellow fever for all travelers due to the outbreak, and the three players were unable to complete the vaccination process before the team's departure. Therefore, Alvarez, Molina, and Simeone will unfortunately be unavailable for the match.
As replacement, head coach Lionel Scaloni will call-up defender Union Saint-Gillouse defender, Kevin Mac Allister, the elder brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who is called up for the first time.
He will fill the vacancy left by Nahuel Molina.
Benfica's wonderkid Gianluca Prestianni has also been called up for the first time.
This young player, who shone brightly for the U17s national team, replaces Giuliano Simeone.
In addition, Strasbourg's new signing Joaquín Panichelli, who had never even been called up to the U20s national team before, has also been called up for the first time.
Since joining the Chelsea sister club this summer, he has been unstoppable in Ligue 1, making him a hot topic in the media, with some even comparing his performance to that of Julián Alvarez, whom he will replace.
The reigning World Cup champions will face Angola away this Friday before facing the reigning European Championship champions, Spain, for the 2026 Finalissima next March.
Last month, in two international friendlies held in the United States in October, Argentina won both matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
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