Argentina coach may leave out Tevez

Published Apr. 2, 2011 12:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

Argentina coach Sergio Batista says Carlos Tevez is unlikely to be a first-choice player in the Copa America team.

Batista has left the Manchester City forward off the team since he declined in November to play a friendly against Brazil because of a leg injury.

Batista has omitted him from the past three matches against Portugal, the United States and Costa Rica.

''I am still thinking if Tevez will return,'' Batisa said Friday on radio La Red. ''But for my style of play, perhaps it might be tough.''

Batista wants Argentina to play like Barcelona and has said Tevez might not fit into such a scheme centered around playmaker Lionel Messi.

Argentine Federation Association president Julio Grondona has said that Tevez was left off the Argentina team as a form of punishment for skipping the Brazil match.

The Copa America will be played between July 1-24 in Argentina.