Tevez named in Argentina squad

Carlos Tevez has been named Argentina’s preliminary squad for the Copa America, to be held on home soil.

Manager Sergio Batista has selected a 26-man squad ahead of the July tournament, with several players – including Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso – in doubt because of injury.

The final squad will be trimmed to 22, with Tevez named after clear-the-air talks with Batista over his attitude.

Batista had hinted that Tevez would not be part of his plans for the tournament, despite the 27-year-old showing his willingness to be involved when he kissed the Argentina flag on his shin pad after scoring against Stoke City on May 17.

Tevez – tipped to leave Manchester City over the English Premier League off-season – is one of seven forwards named in the preliminary squad, alongside Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Diego Milito.

The hosts begin their Copa America campaign against Bolivia in La Plata on July 1, with the final to be played on July 24 in Buenos Aires.

Argentina have lost to Brazil in the final of the last two tournaments, with their last Copa America win coming in 1993.

Full preliminary squad: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Mariano Andujar (Catania); Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Nicolas Pareja (Spartak Moscow), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Fabian Monzon (Boca Juniors); Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Ever Banega (Valencia), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Diego Valeri (Lanus), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Enzo Perez (Estudiantes); Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Diego Milito (Inter Milan).