Sevilla reach agreement with Argentina over Jorge Sampaoli

Sevilla will allow Jorge Sampaoli to become Argentina’s new manager after reaching an agreement in principle with the Argentine Football Association.

Argentina have been without a manager since sacking Edgardo Bauza in April and former Chile boss Sampaoli immediately emerged as the clear favourite to take over the role after guiding Sevilla

to a fourth-place finish in La Liga.

The Andalusian club, however, refused to allow the 57-year-old to leave unless the Argentine FA made a £1.3m payment to trigger his release clause at La Bombonera.
Senior delegates from the Argentine FA travelled to Spain on Thursday to speak with Sevilla president Pepe Castro and the two parties have now reached an agreement in principle which will see Sampaoli leave his contract a year early to take charge of his national side.

A club statement read: „Sevilla FC and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) have reached an agreement in principle for Jorge Sampaoli to become Argentina’s national team manager.

„The agreement is subject to the writing and presentation of relevant documents, which must be signed by all parties on Thursday 1 June.

„The figure implicated in the clause to release Sampaoli from his contract has not been compromised in discussions between Sevilla FC and the AFA, who have acted as Sampaoli’s representative.
„All parties are satisfied with the agreement reached.“

Argentina will now hope to have Sampaoli in place before the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Singapore in June.

The two-time World Cup winners are struggling to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia and are fifth in the South American standings with only four games remaining.