Argentina confirmed Thursday that defender Marcos Senesi will replace injured Leonardo Balerdi on their 26-player World Cup squad. Balerdi suffered a muscle injury in his right leg's soleus that ruled him out of the tournament. Senesi joins the team at their Kansas City base ahead of Argentina's June 16 opener against Algeria in Group J.

Senesi received his first Argentina call-up before the 2022 Finalissima, choosing La Albiceleste over Italy despite his eligibility for the Azzurri through family heritage. The Bournemouth defender made his debut days later against Estonia and has appeared in several friendlies, including a full 90 minutes in Argentina's 1-0 win over Venezuela last October. His most recent cap came in March against Mauritania.

The move comes amid a busy 24 hours for Senesi, who will join Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer when his Bournemouth contract expires in July. He'll become the second Argentine at Spurs alongside Cristian Romero, providing Scaloni with defensive options for matches against Austria and Jordan.

Senesi's inclusion strengthens Argentina's backline depth as they prepare for Group J competition. His Premier League experience with Bournemouth offers tactical versatility that could prove vital in tight tournament matches.