Barcelona have confirmed Lionel Messi’s absence for their last match of the Spanish league season.
Lionel Messi won’t be part of the squad for Barcelona’s trip to Eibar on Sunday evening.
Head coach Ronald Koeman has allowed Messi to miss the club’s last game of the season in order to give him time to rest ahead of this summer’s Copa America Championship.
Messi will represent host nation Argentina in the tournament as he bids to win his first senior title at international level.
Our final squad list of the 2020-21 season#EibarBarça pic.twitter.com/GL5rfTpO1l
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 21, 2021
“The Argentine Leo Messi has not trained on Friday with the coach’s permission and he will not be in the squad for the game against Eibar on Saturday,” read a club statement.
“The striker can enjoy a rest before next month’s Copa America after a season in which he is one of the players in the squad who has played most.”
Of course, Barcelona have nothing left to play for in La Liga. The Catalan club’s 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo last week ended their title hopes with a game to spare. Therefore, Messi’s focus lies on Copa America.
The 33-year-old, though, must resolve his future as his contract expires next month. Barcelona remain hopeful he will commit to a new deal amid interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
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