“We would like him to be here.
I had a conversation with him and he told me that the Covid affected him a lot.
He had the hardest strain… ”At a press conference, the Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni returned to the absence of Lionel Messi for the two qualifying matches for the World Cup against Chile (this Thursday) and against Colombia (next Thursday). ).
Two meetings which have nothing vital for the Albiceleste, already qualified for a trip to Qatar at the end of the year.
The 34-year-old former Barcelona man is recovering from Covid-19 contracted late last year while returning home for the holidays in his hometown of Rosario.
There was therefore no reason to create unnecessary tension with PSG or to take any risk with the player for two quasi-friendly outings.
Messi gave a replica of his 2021 Ballon d'Or to both PSG and Barca 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nM3ohB5kRz
—MC (@CrewsMat10) January 20, 2022
“It is important that he recovers physically and I decided that the best thing was that he did not come in bad conditions, continues the coach, himself affected by the virus this week.
He didn't play for a long time and I think the decision was the right one.
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In Messi's absence, another PSG player will wear the armband.
This one was in fact entrusted to Angel Di Maria, who only had victories the five times he wore it… "It's the right one, he has a lot of experience with the national team" , explains the coach.
Released from a tiring trip to South America, Messi took the opportunity to make a smart jump to Barcelona last Monday.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or went to celebrate the birthday of Xavi, his former Barcelona teammate, now Blaugrana coach.
The day before, the Pulga had played its first meeting of the year under the colors of Paris against Reims (4-0), five days after its resumption of collective training.
Messi played the last 26 minutes as a replacement for… Di Maria.
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