Messi Returns to Barcelona Training After Missing Argentina Friendly

On this subject, the site Le360 writes: "Lionel Messi and the Argentine federation played a very nasty trick on the Moroccans. The absence of the star against the Atlas Lions on Tuesday evening was not only due to a groin discomfort. As if by magic, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner reappeared this morning at the Blaugrana training session."

Messi’s presence at the friendly match (eventually lost 1-0 against the Argentine Albiceleste at the Grand Stade de Tanger) had been widely discussed in the media and it was obvious that excuses were being sought for him not to come. César Luis Menotti, technical director of the Argentine Football Federation, would even have said: "I’m afraid to see him play. He is very emotionally tired between the Champions League and the national team. I see him very tired. If he wants to play for Argentina, so be it. He has a lot of obligations and a heavy emotional baggage, a lot of responsibilities rest on his feet." An emotional fatigue...

And the Moroccan Federation would have pretended to demand an account and explanations because of this absence of the Pulga, while several media claim that if Messi was absent from the match, it was with his blessing, an agreement having been reached between it and the Argentine federation. The ticket sales have also apparently benefited from this doubt about the presence or not of the Argentine star...