Messi accepts risk of virus from possible Spanish League return

Lionel Messi believes he is better off not thinking too much about the risk of being infected by the coronavirus as Spanish soccer clubs step up their return to activity, saying he looks forward to getting back to playing matches.

Messi and his Barcelona team-mates have been back at the club’s training ground conducting individual sessions since last week, following La Liga’s four-phase protocol for returning to activity since it was halted in March due to the pandemic.

All 11 remaining rounds of fixtures in La Liga will take place without spectators, with President Javier Tebas saying last week that matches could start as soon as June 12.

While some players and clubs have spoken out against football returning out of fear of picking up the virus or passing it on to others, Messi said returning to matches was no riskier than leaving home for any other reason.

“There’s a risk of infection everywhere, when you leave your house there’s a risk, so I think we shouldn’t think too much about it because if you do you won’t want to go anywhere,” Messi told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Friday.

“But we must understand that it’s essential we comply with the protocols and follow the prevention measures as much as we can. Returning to training is the first step but we shouldn’t get complacent and we must take all precautions necessary.”

Messi said he is excited about returning to matches but voiced his opposition to La Liga’s proposal for teams to be quarantined together, away from their families, once matches resume.

“Personally I’m looking forward to the competition returning. We know it’s going to all be very strange, without anyone in the stands, I’ve done it before and I found it out,” said the Barca captain.

“With regards to being quarantined, the truth is we don’t like the idea of being separated from our families at all but we’ll have to see what the final plan is.”

Barcelona sit top of the table, two points ahead of Real Madrid.

Players in Spain have started working individually at training grounds as part of a strict and staggered programme, with five players already put into quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus.

Messi also spoke about Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, whom Barcelona are reportedly keen to sign this summer.

Martinez is viewed as a long-term replacement for the 33-year-old Luis Suarez.

"If I'm honest I'm not sure if there were or are negotiations right now for him, I have no idea," Messi said.

"Lautaro is an impressive striker, especially because I think he is very complete -- he is strong, he dribbles well, he has an eye for goal, he knows how to protect the ball."

Messi believes it is not possible for them to win Europe's top-tier tournament UEFA Champions League if they continue to play in the same manner as they have been doing recently.

The UCL currently stands suspended as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus pandemic and even if the tournament returns this summer, Barcelona aren't well-equipped tactically to win it according to Messi.

Barcelona, under new manager Quique Serien, are currently at the top of LaLiga but Messi believes the current system is not capable of helping them win the Champions League.

"What I think is that coach misunderstood what I said. What I said is that playing as we had been playing the last games before the break, it seemed clear that we weren't enough to win the Champions League," Messi told Spanish outlet SPORT.

"I never doubted the squad we have and I have no doubt that you can win all that remain, but not by playing in the way we were playing.

"Now, everyone has their opinion and they are all very respectable. Mine is based on the fact that I was lucky to play the Champions League every year and I know that it is not possible to win it by playing as we have been playing," he added.

Messi has so far helped Barcelona win four European crowns and this season, they reached the round of 16 where they drew the first leg 1-1 against Napoli before the season was suspended.

Agencies