Public opinion is in turmoil over the 'Messi faction' story.

Some information suggests that coach Edgardo Bauza often favors "Messi's faction" when choosing the squad for the Argentina team.

The controversy began after Argentina lost to Paraguay in their recent match. Initially, a newspaper accused coach Bauza of favouring Messi’s friends. One of the mistakes the newspaper pointed out was the introduction of Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, who were in poor form.

Going further, a commentary program on Fox Sports questioned whether Argentina was just "Messi's friends club". The channel also raised suspicions that Messi opposed the call-up of striker Mauro Icardi to the team.

Messi and coach Bauza are facing public controversy after the team's defeat.

Icardi has scored 58 goals in 111 games for Inter Milan and is one of the most highly rated strikers in Serie A. However, he has only played once for Argentina.

According to Fox Sports. Messi may have resisted calling Icardi because he did not want to upset his friend Maxi Lopez. Wanda Nara, Icardi's current wife, was Lopez's ex-wife. Nara only divorced Lopez after the relationship with Icardi was exposed.

In Argentina, legend Diego Maradona also dislikes Icardi. When asked why the striker has only been called up once, the former player said: "I don't know and I don't want to talk about traitors."

Meanwhile, Icardi reacted strongly to Maradona: "I don't want to talk about someone who has never been an example for others."

According to VNE