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Messi Misses Training Again After Decision To Stay At Barcelona

  Lionel Messi was a no-show at training with Barcelona despite his decision to stay at the club under sufferance, journalists at the training ground … Continue reading Messi Misses Training Again After Decision To Stay At Barcelona


Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi gestures during the Spanish league football match be tween FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on February 2, 2020. LLUIS GENE / AFP.
A file photo of Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi during a Spanish league football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on February 2, 2020. LLUIS GENE / AFP.

 

Lionel Messi was a no-show at training with Barcelona despite his decision to stay at the club under sufferance, journalists at the training ground said on Saturday morning.

The Argentine superstar announced on Friday he had been forced to remain at Barcelona, claiming after club president Josep Maria Bartomeu broke his word to let him leave.

It came after 10 days of tension since his bombshell fax telling Barcelona he wanted out.

But while other players including Jordi Alba and Philippe Coutinho arrived for the session, Messi failed to appear at the Joan Gamper training complex for the session which began at 0730 GMT.

Last Sunday Messi deliberately skipped the mandatory coronavirus test for Barcelona players.

According to local media, Messi must first pass the Covid-19 test with a return to the squad possibly on Monday.

He could then figure in new coach Ronald Koeman’s first fixture, a friendly against third division Nastic on September 12.

AFP