Sevilla, AFA reach agreement in principle for Sampaoli to manage Argentina

The era of Jorge Sampaoli is over at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

On Friday, Sevilla announced an agreement in principle was reached with the Asociacion del Futbol Argentino for Sampaoli to become Argentina's manager. All parties must sign the relevant documents by June 1, and, while the release clause is yet to be discussed, all parties are satisfied with the agreement.

Jose Castro, Sevilla's president, insisted Thursday that Sampaoli's release clause be honoured, saying: "I respect the AFA's opinion, but in our head there is only the full clause of €1.5 million, it's €1.5 million. There is no other."

The AFA announced a 27-man squad Monday for Argentina's friendlies in June. La Albiceleste will battle Brazil at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 9, and take on Singapore at the National Stadium on June 13. While the list didn't bear Sampaoli's signature, it did "bear his stamp," Tim Vickery wrote for SBS. Big changes were made, as Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Pablo Zabaleta were omitted. Mauro Icardi was called up, along with Emanuel Mammana and Leandro Paredes, a centre-back and a No. 10, respectively.

Seven footballers from the Primera Division were summoned, including Nicolas Tagliafico, Javier Pinola, Marcos Acuna, and three players employed by River Plate in Jonatan Maidana, Ignacio Fernandez, and Lucas Alario.

Sampaoli is walking into a train wreck. Despite its riches in attack, Argentina is fifth in CONMEBOL's 2018 World Cup qualifying, with only 15 goals through 14 qualifiers. La Albiceleste is overly dependent on Lionel Messi, and the numbers prove it. Edgardo Bauza was unable to get the balance right in a national team with enviable depth, and was sacked as a result.

Only four South American national teams will qualify automatically for the 2018 World Cup, while whoever finishes fifth must go through an inter-confederation play-off involving an opponent from Oceania. If Sampaoli can strike the perfect balance with the high-press style of play he learned from Marcelo Bielsa's bible, and develop Argentina into a team that doesn't rely on Messi, there may be hope for a top-four finish.