Barcelona Confirm Messi Injury, Relax Fears On Long-Term Fitness -

Barcelona have announced that their captain, Lionel Messi has picked up a thigh constraint, but have sought to relax any fears that the Argentine could be on the sidelines for a prolonged period of time.

The doubt regarding the 32-year-old’s fitness first started when he became visibly absent from training sessions at their camp in Catalunya.

It was however suggested at the time that Messi was merely working away from the cameras in individual gym sessions.

Barca are, however, now set to acknowledge that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is carrying a slight injury.

The Spanish champions are confident, though, that their talismanic captain will soon return to full training with the rest of Quique Setien’s squad and be ready for the resumption of La Liga action.

The Blaugrana have, along with the rest of the sporting world, been in a state of lockdown since the middle of March.

Niggling knocks were always likely as physical activity was stepped back up, with highly-rated teenager Ansu Fati another of those currently being forced to work away from the main group.

Barca, in a statement released on the club’s official website said: “Quique Setien and his team were back out on the training ground this Friday after taking the previous day off.

“Barca captain Leo Messi has a minor right quadriceps injury and trained in isolation, doing specific exercises to avoid unnecessary risks with just eight days remaining before Barca finally get back to playing matches. He should be able to rejoin his team-mates in a few days’ time.

“All of the available players were at the Ciutat Esportiva, where they were joined by Jorge Cuenca and Kike Saverio as well as the other B team players who have been working out with the first team over the last few days: Inaki Pena, R. Araujo, Chumi, Monchu, Riqui Puig, Collado and Ansu Fati. The latter, like Messi, worked out individually this morning.

“For tomorrow’s Saturday session the players will train again, but unusually, this session is going to be on the pitch in the Camp Nou as Setien works to get his players ready for the return to football, but with games being played behind closed doors.”

Barcelona, who top the La Liga table with two points over El Clasico rivals Real Madrid , have been out of action since the league was suspended on March 7 due to coronavirus.