New Tottenham signing Marcos Senesi has cut short his Ibiza holiday after being handed a last gasp call up to Argentina’s squad for the World Cup.
Senesi, whose free transfer from Bournemouth to Tottenham was confirmed on Wednesday, had been waiting to hear in recent days whether he would join the reigning world champions’ 26-man squad.
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni had been weighing up his options in recent days following an injury to Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi.
Senesi has been on holiday in Ibiza with his girlfriend and fellow footballer Kelci Bowers, who recently left Bournemouth’s women’s team.
Bowers shared a video of Senesi receiving news of his call-up, as she explained they had been about to go to dinner when he received a phone call from the Argentinean national team.
‘We just came back from Miami, where we had been on holiday, and came to Ibiza just to enjoy a bit and relax,’ Bowers explained while Senesi was on the phone.
Marcos Senesi was filmed reacting to being handed a late call up to Argentina’s World Cup squad
Senesi, who has been on holiday in Ibiza, celebrated with his girlfriend Kelci Bowers
Senesi has made just three appearances for Argentina to date but will now join up with the World Cup holders’ squad
‘But this whole time neither of us have switched off, we were both aware of the situation of a centre back getting injured.
‘We have both the whole time not been able to fully enjoy, you know what I mean.
‘And now Marcos has just been called up. He has been called up for the World Cup, are you joking.
‘This is literally what both of us have been praying for, every day he has just been thinking about this.’
After Senesi put the phone down, both he and Bowers hugged and screamed in celebration.
The call-up is a reward for Senesi’s fine season at Bournemouth, where he helped the Cherries to a sixth place finish in the Premier League to secure Europa League qualification.
The defender, who had also been eligible to represent Italy, has made just three appearances for Argentina to date in his career.
He will now join up with the squad as Argentina aim to retain the World Cup.
Argentina’s first group match is against Algeria on Wednesday, before matches against Austria and Jordan.
