Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi Argentina has recovered from knee and hamstring worries which made him out of Paris St Germain’s last two matches and in line to start in their World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on Friday.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said the staff had worked separately with the 34-year-old Messi to prepare it for a watery double header against Uruguay in Montevideo and the next Tuesday at home to Brazil.
“In principle, we believe that Leo is good,” Skaloni said to reporters.
“Leo wants to play and I want him to play.” Messi’s call caused some unhappiness with PSG Leonardo’s general manager but scaloni tried to shrink the crack.
“We have a relationship with Leonardo and (reactions) they can be understood, that Messi has spent a lot of time with the national team recently,” said Skaloni.
“But there is no doubt that we are in the rules that call them.
It is always a problem for European clubs.” Argentina was second in the South American team qualifying group, six points behind Brazil after 11 matches.
The top four fulfilled the requirements automatically for Qatar 2022 and the five-placed team entered the inter-regional playoffs.
The winner of the Copa America in July, Argentina was unbeaten in 25 matches, running which stretched back into mid-2019.