Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has left an emotional handwritten message for supporters after spending five days in his hometown of Pujato following the World Cup final defeat to Spain.
Scaloni left Pujato on Saturday night. Before departing, he placed a handwritten note on the door of his parents’ home to thank the hundreds of supporters who had gathered throughout the week.
The message read: “Leo left last night! Thank you all for so much love.”
The note aimed to reach fans who planned to visit later to see the World Cup-winning coach before he travelled again.
Pujato, a town of just over 3,000 people in Argentina’s Santa Fe province, welcomed Scaloni with large crowds after his return from the United States. Supporters visited his parents’ home each day to take photographs, collect autographs and congratulate him despite Argentina’s defeat in the final.
Scaloni also found time to revisit places from his childhood. He rode his bicycle through the town and nearby areas before attending a Casilda League match between Alumni and Sportivo Matienzo.
The visit carried special meaning because Scaloni started his football journey at Sportivo Matienzo before building a playing career that later led him to become Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach.
Scaloni has not confirmed his next destination. Argentine media expect him to return to Mallorca, Spain, where he lives with his family, before rejoining the national team for the September FIFA international window.
His contract with the Argentine Football Association expires in December, and he has yet to confirm whether he will remain in charge beyond the end of the year.
