The Argentina international has returned to Paris after testing negative for COVID-19, although he has yet to be cleared to play.
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Lionel Messi will miss Paris Saint-Ligue Germain’s 1 match against Lyon on Sunday due to his COVID-19 recuperation, the club announced on Saturday. The Argentina international has returned to Paris after testing negative, although he has yet to be cleared to play. Several players, including the 34-year-old, had positive reports during the Ligue 1 break. After testing positive, PSG reported Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, Danilo Pereira, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Layvin Kurzawa were still isolated.
“Lionel Messi will continue his post-COVID individual protocol in the coming days,” PSG said in a statement.
“It’s always hard to pick the right team, COVID or no COVID,” PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino told a news conference on Saturday.
His team is in first place with 46 points from 19 games, ten points ahead of second-placed Marseille as the club approaches its 2,500th game. PSG, on the other hand, will not be able to count on the backing of their followers, who have been prohibited from travelling to Lyon for fear of clashing with the home fans. PSG’s visits were regularly a source of public unrest, according to the interior ministry’s restriction order.
Also Read – ‘Shocking’: Lionel Messi accused of ‘disrespecting’ PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino
The seven-time Ballon d’Or holder Messi has found himself in hot soup and has been criticised for his irresponsible behaviour after testing positive for COVID-19. It has been claimed that PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino came to know about Messi’s Covid-19 reports and subsequent quarantine procedures only through third parties. It has also come to light that the prolific forward didn’t inform the coach or the club about his situation as he was isolated in his home town of Rosario in Argentina before returning to Paris earlier this week. And former PSG star Jerome Rothen has severely criticised the star footballer for his negligence towards the club.
Rothen, who represented Les Parisiens in 180 appearances between 2004 and 2009, believes that the Argentina talisman went against footballing ethics through his gesture and it is pretty shocking. He, additionally, mentioned that there should always be transparency in communication between the coach and player of any grade.
