Tata Martino has confirmed what will happen to Diego Gomez this summer, who is due to leave Inter Miami for international duty with Paraguay.
The versatile midfielder played a key role earlier this month in booking the South American nation’s ticket to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with Gomez already a full international with the Albirroja.
As a result, the 20-year-old is in line to play in both the Olympics and in this summer’s Copa America, though Inter Miami manager Martino has now confirmed that Gomez will only feature in one competition.
Martino told AS when asked what will happen to Gomez this summer on the international stage: “Diego Gomez has the Copa America and the Olympic Games.
“Luckily I have many friends and I spoke with them to tell them that I have no problem. I have no problem, they choose, but only one (tournament). You can’t spend two months away.
“In this case, there are two competitions together, which means that a player is away for over two months, so they are going to tell me if Daniel Garnero wants him for the Copa America or if Jara Saguier wants him for the Olympic Games.”
Inter Miami will hope Diego Gomez plays in the Olympics
With Inter Miami set to lose Lionel Messi and potentially Luis Suarez to the Copa America this summer, the Herons will be looking light in the attacking department during the competition.
As a result, Martino should be urging Gomez to play for Paraguay during the Olympics, with the versatile youngster able to cover in the attack should Messi and Suarez both leave.
Moreover, given how important Gomez was in Paraguay qualifying for this summer’s games, the 20-year-old himself could be more eager to compete in the Olympics rather than the Copa America.
Indeed, it is a unique opportunity for the youngster to shine a real light on Paraguay as a soccer nation, and Gomez could be up for the idea of missing the Copa America to feature in Paris.