May 12, 2002

BUENOS AIRES, May 11 (DS) - Argentinean side River Plate chairman Jose Maria Aguilar has opined about the non-invitation of FC Barcelona striker Javier Saviola to the Argentinean World Cup squad for the 2002 World Cup. "It's a folly that Caniggia will go to the World Cup but Saviola won't," he stated.

Aguilar is the first member of the Argentinean club board who expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of Argentinean national team head coach Marcelo Bielsa. He added: "Not to call Saviola for the World Cup means not to think of the future of Argentinean football."

However, Caniggia's participation in the World Cup remains undecided because he hasn't recovered yet from the injury received in the Scottish Cup final match. Consequently, Bielsa may yet call Saviola instead of Caniggia. Currently, however, Bielsa has included the veteran of the Argentinean national team in the squad.

Despite the criticism concerning Bielsa, River Plate chairman wants him to be the head coach of the team.