Carles Puyol Barcelona’s team captain is trying to put a stop to Messi’s participation in the Beijing Olympic Games with his national team as his name was announced during a press conference as part of the Argentinean squad for the upcoming event.
One of the main reasons the Barcelona team does not want to allow the Argentinean to participate in the Olympics is due to the preliminary round for the Champions League qualification being played on the same dates. Therefore; they will do everything possible to hold the young footballer to play in order to have him in full condition for the European competition.
This is indeed a very controversial situation as Messi could be suspended for the entire duration of the Olympics as it is stated in the FIFA rules that all players who do not have 23 years of age have to be released to their national teams if they are required to play. On the other hand; Puyol insists that Messi is a key player and that this is a crucial time for the Barcelona club and it would be indeed a disaster if such a player is missing from the team’s roster.
"We have a great squad, but Messi is an important player for us, one of the best in the world," Puyol said Thursday from the team's preseason training camp. "What's happening with his situation is a theme that we can't really get into since we can't control it. Let's hope it's resolved and that we can count on him being with us."
After Ronaldhino’s departure from Barcelona FC to his new Italian team the AC Milan; the Argentinean has become the main star of the Spaniard club as his contribution has been phenomenal. On the other hand; the Brazilian’s work was also of great push to Barcelona despite the last two seasons during which he was not able to perform his best due to injuries. Puyol admits that Ronaldhino will be remembered as of the best players that has been part of the Catalonian list.
Barcelona FC Sporting director Txiki Begiristain has announced that the team is working on an agreement with the Argentinean Football Association in order to come to terms with them; as he stated during an interview “On our side we want Messi to play the first leg of the Champions League (third qualifying round) and then we'll release him to play at the Olympic Games. We understand that reaching this agreement is the best solution. If we get a good result then, without being over-confident, we should be able to let the player go.”
Up to this point the Argentinean Football Association has not accepted the terms and conditions of the deal but it could certainly prevent future disputes therefore; they will wait and see what the outcome turns out to be.
Other European clubs like Werder Bremen and Schalke do not want their Brazilian players Rafinha and Diego to be part of the Beijing Soccer Tournament and have taken the petition to the sports’ highest body the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Therefore; they will decide if the players will or will not be part of the Olympics this next month of August.
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