Messi available for Atletico game despite not training
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is ready to play in Saturday’s La Liga match at Atletico Madrid despite missing training on Friday for personal reasons, according to coach Luis Enrique.
Messi has not trained since returning from international duty with Argentina but is in the squad for the clash at the Calderon, which pits the champions against the 2013-14 title winners.
Spanish media reported that Messi was absent due to the birth of his second son, although there was no immediate confirmation from the club or the four-times world player of the year.
“Leo had the coach’s and the club’s permission to miss training for personal reasons,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.
“He is in the squad and tomorrow he will be available to play,” added the former Barca and Spain midfielder.
“We know the performance we and the players are capable of and we’ll see what happens tomorrow at the Calderon.”
Barca and Atletico both won their opening two matches of the season without conceding a goal and are level at the top on six points with Celta Vigo and Eibar.
Barca are likely to be without suspended centre back Gerard Pique on Saturday, unless an appeal against the sanction is successful. BENITEZ WANTS FEWER INTERNATIONALS
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has called for fewer meaningless international games during the season after losing James Rodriguez and Danilo to injury whilst they were on international duty in the past week.
Both players are expected to be sidelined for up to a month, missing the start of Real’s Champions League campaign.
“The players are going to play matches that many times are insignificant, not just friendlies as in this case, but also some official matches where they are winning 7-0 or 8-0,” he said on Friday.
“We have lost two players for a number of games and now we need to get the best out of the excellent squad we have so that their absence isn’t noticed.”