Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, would not be called up for the next two South American qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia due to an agreement between Paris Saint Germain and the Argentine Football Association (AFA), according to the European press on Thursday.
The Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo assured that PSG agreed with Argentina and Brazil that Messi and Neymar, stars of the French team, do not travel to the double date that will be played between January 27 and February 1. According to information from the Catalan media, Messi would be the only one from Argentina who would not be released since Ángel Di María and Leandro Paredes will be part of the squad led by Lionel Scaloni.
The point of agreement between PSG and AFA was the need for a break for Messi, who has not yet returned to training normally after having contracted the coronavirus. Mauricio Pochettino’s team has as its main objective the round of 16 series of the European Champions League against Real Madrid and needs Messi in his best physical and footballing condition. The first leg will be played on February 15 in Paris and the rematch, on March 9, in Madrid.
The information of the pact between Argentina and the Parisian team comes after the offer made by Lionel Scaloni to Messi was known, to give him rest on the next double date of the Qualifiers, taking into account that the team has already guaranteed its ticket to Qatar
Since Messi arrived at PSG, the difference between the commitments he played with the National Team compared to those he played with his team has been noticeable. Under Scaloni’s orders, the star played all seven qualifying games – eight if you count the suspended one against Brazil – in addition to all those from the Copa América in Brazil before signing with the Parisian club. On the other hand, at PSG he has already lost 12 of the 28 games that the team led by Mauricio Pochettino played so far this season.
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