Argentina team secretary Jorge Miadosqui boldly suggested that Lionel Messi doesn’t look after himself properly due to his eagerness to play every minute of every game.
After making a strong start to the season, Messi picked up a groin injury in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid last month, missing the last two Liga fixtures.
Subsequently he’ll also sit out Argentina’s next two World Cup qualifiers, as they take on Peru and Paraguay in the coming days.
Following the injury, Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza called for both club and country to work closer together to ensure that the 29-year-old remains fit, such is his undeniable impact in the final third.
However, team secretary Miadosqui has suggested that Messi’s appetite to play could be the cause of his fitness issues.
“The one who isn’t being careful is the player, who always wants to play,” he told ESPN Radio. “We all have to look after him together.
“I think that the national team looks after players in the best way. We sent the doctor for Augusto Fernandez’s operation, and he went to look at Messi. We have to look after all the national team’s players.”
Miadosqui expects Messi to be available for the key qualifying matches against Brazil and Colombia next month, but he is confident that Bauza’s side can cope without the captain against Peru and Paraguay.
“He’ll be back in the next few weeks, we hope to have him for the matches in November. We have to thank the players who come because they do it for the shirt, for the glory.
“You have to think that they can get good results without him. We have great players to do just that and you have to be relaxed about it.”
Argentina are third in the South American qualifying section after eight matches, a point behind leaders Uruguay.
Messi has scored four goals and created 10 chances in five La Liga appearances this season, as Barcelona sit fourth on 13 points from their opening seven fixtures, two behind joint-leaders Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Next up for them following the international break is a home clash with Deportivo La Coruna, before taking on Manchester City in the Champions League.
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