'It's not logical' - PSG director Leonardo unhappy with an injured Lionel Messi being called up by Argentina
Paris Saint-Germain's director of sport, Leonardo is not too happy with seeing club superstar, Lionel Messi being called up for international duty by Argentina for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Messi who missed PSG's Champions League clash against RB Leipzig due to injury is currently undergoing treatment for a knee and hamstring issue - though the Argentina staff are looking to ensure that the 34-year-old will be back to full fitness for their game against Brazil scheduled for November 17.
The striker looks unlikely to return to full fitness for La Albiceleste's first qualifier against Uruguay scheduled for November 13, and Leonardo believes that they as a club have been forced to bend to the will of a country’s medical staff.
Leonardo told Le Parisien: « We do not agree to let a player go in selection who, for us, is not in physical condition or who is in the rehabilitation phase. This does not make sense, and this type of situation deserves to be defined a real settlement with FIFA. » #PSG ??
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"We do not agree with letting a player leave for international duty who, for us, is not in physical condition or is at the recovery stage. It’s not logical, and these kinds of situations merit that we establish a rule with FIFA," he said as per Le Parisien.
Messi who led Argentina to their first Copa America title since 1993 earlier in the year, has not had the best of starts to life in the French capital as he is yet to open his goalscoring account in the Ligue 1. However, he has scored three goals for PSG in the Champions League and will look to return to his best form once he returns back after international duty.