Lionel Scaloni reveals which Barcelona player he wishes he could steal for Argentina

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed he would pick Barcelona midfielder Pedri if he could steal any player from the current Spain squad.

Scaloni recently led a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina to World Cup glory and joins a select group of coaches to have won the competition.

The 44-year-old hails from Northern Argentina but spent much of his career playing in Spain. He signed for Deportivo La Coruna in 1998, winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and remained at Riazor until 2006. Scaloni also then had spells at Racing Santander and Mallorca.

His contract with Argentina actually expired at the end of December. But while a renewal with the Argentine Football Association has been widely expected, Scaloni hasn’t actually ruled out moving his coaching career to Spain and taking over La Roja in future.

“Why not? Spain gave me a lot and it's my second home," he told El Partizado de COPE.

"Any Argentine would say the same because they treat us incredibly well. I feel part of this country but Spain does well to have Spanish coaches.”

There is one current Spain player he would have his eye on for Argentina were it possible to steal.

“If I could have a pass from a Spanish player for my team it would be Pedri,” Scaloni added.

AFA president Claudio Tapia has all but confirmed will get an extension to his contract, suggesting at least a verbal agreement was in place last month.

“We shook hands and we said yes to each other,” Tapia said only nine days after the World Cup.

It seems now that the specifics of the agreement still need to be ironed out

“I am traveling to Buenos Aires,” Scaloni has said. “I hope to sit down with the president and see if we reach the agreement we want. We have a good relationship, I thank him for the opportunity.”