The Belo Horizonte side will be without their centre-back for some of March after he was called-up to his national squad to face Romania in Bucharest on March 5.
Nicolas Otamendi is the only South American-based player in coach Alejandro Sabella’s squad and will hope that the call-up gives him a chance to solidify a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad.
Otamendi’s team-mate Jô is the other Atlético-MG player expected to represent his country at the World Cup with the centre-forward likely to provide back-up to Fred in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil squad.
Atlético players Rever and Emerson are already out for extended periods and will be hoping not to loose any more players in the coming weeks.
