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Dybala dismay as Copa America, Olympic dream ends

Stefano Rellandini / REUTERS

Milan - Juventus striker Paulo Dybala has admitted his disappointment after the Serie A giants ended his hopes of playing for Argentina in the Olympics this summer.

With 19 league goals, Dybala finished second only to Napoli's record-setting 36-goal star Gonzalo Higuain in the Serie A scoring charts in what was his first season in Turin last season.

The 22-year-old striker had been hoping to shine at the Olympics in Brazil or the Copa America, the 100th edition of which will be held across 10 cities in the US this summer.

But after being left out of Argentina's Copa squad by coach Gerardo Martino, who has selected Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Sergio Aguero and Higuain, Juventus then put the brakes on Dybala's Olympic plans.

"It's disappointing, but Juventus won't give me permission to go to Rio," Dybala told media after Saturday's 1-0 Cup final win over AC Milan at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Dybala will now spend the summer training with the Turin giants and preparing for the new season.

Speaking of Martino, he added: "I have to respect the coach's decision. It's not easy to assemble a squad with so many phenomenal strikers."

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