Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez expressed hope Tuesday that Edinson Cavani would stay with the squad after the striker’s father was arrested following a fatal traffic accident.
Paris Saint-Germain star Cavani was reportedly mulling whether or not to fly home to Uruguay to be with his father following the accident late Monday.
The 28-year-old trained with his Uruguay team-mates on Tuesday as they prepared for Wednesday’s crunch Copa America quarter-final against hosts Chile.
Tabarez told reporters Cavani would be given time to decide his choice of action.
“In the next few hours we will speak to him again and hope that he will be able to sort things out and be able to focus on the game,” Tabarez said.
“Obviously it has affected him, as it would affect anyone in his position,” Tabarez added.
Reports in Uruguay on Tuesday said Cavani could be allowed to leave the squad and would reunite with the team if they progressed to the semi-finals.
A 19-year-old motorcyclist died after a collision with a truck driven by Cavani’s father Luis, Uruguayan media reported.
Cavani’s father was arrested following the incident.