Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 8y

Giovani Dos Santos not ready to return for Mexico - Juan Carlos Osorio

Giovani dos Santos' return to Mexico's national team will have to wait.

The 26-year-old LA Galaxy player last featured for El Tri in July in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but he is unlikely to be called up for the friendly on Feb. 10 against Senegal.

"Giovani dos Santos told me that he isn't physically right and isn't ready for this call-up," Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"I spoke to Giovani dos Santos and stressed he [should] get back on form as soon as possible for his well-being and that of Mexican football."

Dos Santos hasn't played a competitive game since Oct. 29 and is only just starting preseason with his MLS club.

Dos Santos was not included in either of Mexico interim coach Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti's call-ups last year and was also left out of Osorio's first squad for 2018 World Cup qualifying in November.

The match in Miami next month will be Mexico's first of 2016 and will only feature players from the Liga MX, although Dos Santos hasn't ruled out his presence in interviews.

Osorio added he would likely meet up personally with Dos Santos in early February and that the former Barcelona forward will be considered for Mexico's next squad in March, when El Tri plays a home-and-away World Cup qualifying matches against Canada.

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