Saturday, August 17, 2013

Messi in Barcelona squad vs Levante



The forward looks set to feature in the Blaugrana's opening game of the Liga season having recovered from a thigh injury which forced him to withdraw from Argentina duty

Lionel Messi has overcome a thigh injury to be named in Barcelona's squad for Sunday's Liga opener against Levante.

The forward withdrew from Argentina's squad ahead of their 2-1 victory over Italy on Wednesday after picking up the muscular strain during the Blaugrana's pre-season tour of Asia.

Messi has focused on his rehabilitation with the club's medical staff during the week in order to be fit to feature at Camp Nou on Sunday, and new coach Gerardo Martino has
chosen to name him in the 18-man squad.

"Messi is very enthusiastic," Martino said in a press conference ahead of the game.

"He has been working hard during his holiday. There are always records to break and trophies to win."

 Cesc Fabregas, who has been linked heavily with Manchester United during the summer, also makes the opening Liga matchday squad, though captain Carles Puyol is yet to regain full fitness.

Martino insisted that despite Puyol's lack of fitness Barca would now not be in the hunt for another defender, having ended their pursuit of Chelsea's David Luiz and Liverpool's Daniel Agger.

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