*Lionel Messi vomiting a concern for Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino
SOMETHING
is not right with Lionel Messi, according to Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino,
after the Argentina forward appeared to vomit during an international friendly.
The 26-year-old Messi doubled over during
Argentina’s 0-0 draw against Romania on Wednesday.Martino thought Messi had the
flu before a 3-1 loss to Real Sociedad nearly two weeks ago. But the Argentine
coach has changed his thinking since.
“This
is something he’s had for quite some time. I’m not a specialist and so far we
haven’t figured out what is causing this, but this doesn’t affect his play,”
Martino said on Friday.
“But
something is not right.”
Martino
told a news conference that Messi had seen a specialist, which proved
inconclusive.Despite this, Messi was included in the squad for Saturday’s match
at Valladolid. Midfielder Andres Iniesta will not play at the Jose Zorrilla
Stadium after being left out for personal reasons. Jordi Alba will also be
missing as Martino does not want to “overwork” the Spain fullback going into
Wednesday’s Champions League home match against Manchester City.Centre back
Gerard Pique returns from injury against Valladolid. Defender Carles Puyol was
also left out of the team after having announced his intention to leave his
boyhood club at the end of the season. Martino suggested Barcelona’s current
squad was not deep enough to fill Puyol’s void next season, and it will need to
tap the summer transfer market to find a centre back.“What I can’t imagine is
(Barcelona) signing a third- or fourth-rate player. Barca doesn’t sign such
players,” Martino said. “(Puyol) is the kind of player a club very rarely comes
across. Footballers like these are irreplaceable.” Barcelona trails Spanish
league leader Real Madrid by one point in the standings.
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