By Daily Sports on August 16, 2019

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says Lionel Messi will not be risked for the Spanish champions’ La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao on Friday.

Messi injured his calf in training last week and missed Barca’s tour of the United States. He has not featured in any of the club’s five preseason friendlies and hasn’t played competitively since the Copa America.

The Argentine forward is doing recovery work but has not yet trained with his teammates and will not be unnecessarily rushed back at San Mames.

“We don’t take risks with any players, so especially not with Leo,” Valverde said in a news conference on Thursday.

“He’s still not trained with the team and doing recovery work is not the same as working with the team. We’re going to wait a little bit and see, but he’s recovering well.”

Messi could be back for Barca’s first home game of the new campaign, against Real Betis on Aug. 25, but until then Valverde is likely to use the front line he fielded against Napoli in Ann Arbor, Michigan, last Saturday.

Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez were all on target as the Blaugrana downed the Italians 4-0.

Valverde’s attack could yet be further strengthened this month, with talks ongoing with Paris Saint-Germain regarding the possibility of bringing Neymar back this summer.

“I’m not involved in all these issues,” the coach said when asked about sporting director Eric Abidal’s trip to Paris this week to meet with PSG to discuss a deal. (ESPN)

•Photo shows Valverde

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 16, 2019

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