Messi happy at Barca, says Bauza

Lionel Messi could not be happier than at Barcelona, and can crown his status as an all-time great by winning the World Cup with Argentina, the country’s national coach, Edgardo Bauza, said on Wednesday.

“I can see just how happy he is at Barcelona with his family around him,” Bauza said of Messi, who was part of Argentina’s World Cup runner-up squad in 2014.

“Of course when Leo is happy that helps him give his best performance, morale is crucial for form.

“A player is happy when he is playing and winning, otherwise he is rarely happy,” added Bauza, who became Argentina coach in August.

Barca lost 4-0 at Paris Saint-Germain last week and with his contract running out in 2018 there is speculation he may leave, with Manches-

Former UEFA president Michel Platini on Wednesday returned to a soccer stadium for the first time since being handed a four-year suspension in 2016.

The France great watched from the stands at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in central France as Ligue 1 SaintEtienne was knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United.

Platini, who played for Saint-Etienne from 1979-82, is suspended from soccer-related activities for conflict of interest over a $2 million payment he received from FIFA in 2011.

Platini did not go to any Euro 2016 games in his native France last summer despite the FIFA ethics committee saying he could attend.