Messi to fly to Argentina for further rehab

[chauchey]

Leo Messi will fly to Argentina to continue his recovery programme. The player will be in his native country for some eight days in the company of Juanjo Brau.
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/layout/img/sp.gif
According to the Club Medical Services, Lionel Messi will travel on Tuesday March 18 to Argentina, where he will continue therapy on his muscle injury. The decision was made by the first team doctors, the players and the FC Barcelona technical secretary.
Specialist accompaniment
Messi will be accompanied throughout his eight or so days by club physio Juanjo Brau. The final stage of his treatment programme will be focussed on the specific readaptation of the injured muscle along with football work and making sure he gets quickly back to full and general fitness.

This sucks a bunch. I know it says March 18, but i believe it was a typo, because the article was released today, and also it says tuesday, and april 18th is on a tuesday. This sucks, because messi will be out at least till the 26th of April. Harsh. :(

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n06041307.shtml

[DanneS]

I don't like the news that he will be away from the Barca team during the CL-semifinals against Milan. :(

So young and already with such a long period of injury. I hope this won't be something that hunts him through his career. There are a number of young talents that never gets to the top or stays at the top because of constant injuries that won't leave them any peace.

[chauchey]

well, he should be around for the end of the season, whatever shape that takes for barca. If he's not, it looks like he'll be ready for the world cup. I think that they are taking their time with his injury, because they dont want to take any chances that it will become a permanent problem. At least, i hope they are.. :o

[nimme]

Man this sucks, he's been away a while now and I miss him already and now he won't play CL either? He is young but still a very talented and important player for the team.

edit: btw, I am in barcelona when the rematch fcb - milan is taking place, I know there are no tickets available but does anyone now any good pub or something with a big screen or something? Please pm me if you do.

[bobkat]

Horrible news, but I truly hope that they are being very careful with leo. Despite the naysayers he has the potential to be one of the greatest in the world - it would be a shame for that potential to be squandered because of a match or two. I know that sounds harsh - but Messi's loyalty to fcb is beyond doubt and i'd rather loose him for two matches against milan than loose him as one of our best home bred players (ever) in the future.

[DanneS]

edit: btw, I am in barcelona when the rematch fcb - milan is taking place, I know there are no tickets available but does anyone now any good pub or something with a big screen or something? Please pm me if you do.
I visited Barcelona two years ago but I don't know if that pub dedicated to football near Las Ramblas is still open or not. I don't think you'll have any problem finding a nice place to watch the game, there will be loads of them and you could always ask the local fans when you go there.

Hey, I googled and found a place for you: The Donegal Irish Pub
Opened up in 2005 and located just by the Rambla, in the Raval, the Donegal is one of the most central pubs in the city, both a meeting place for the city folk, and a get together local for foreigners. It has got three plasma screens and another huge screen for the projection of the most relevant sporting events. http://www.barceloca.com/dataDetails-8672/en-GB/The-Donegal-Irish-Pub-barcelona.aspx

[nimme]

I visited Barcelona two years ago but I don't know if that pub dedicated to football near Las Ramblas is still open or not. I don't think you'll have any problem finding a nice place to watch the game, there will be loads of them and you could always ask the local fans when you go there.

Hey, I googled and found a place for you: The Donegal Irish Pub
Opened up in 2005 and located just by the Rambla, in the Raval, the Donegal is one of the most central pubs in the city, both a meeting place for the city folk, and a get together local for foreigners. It has got three plasma screens and another huge screen for the projection of the most relevant sporting events. http://www.barceloca.com/dataDetails-8672/en-GB/The-Donegal-Irish-Pub-barcelona.aspx

thanks a lot mate, appreciated! Will surely check it out :D

[akd]

I heard that the club wants him to go to Argentina so that he can get away from the team and not be as anxious to play. Anyways I think that the press is exagerrating the injury and he should be back to play the last couple of games with Barca and the CL finals if Barca qualify. I am kinda pissed off at the Barca medical staff, it is more than "bad luck" that so many players are getting injured...

[perfectdark]

I think he is better off in Argentina than with Barca's staff :rolleyes:

[chauchey]

I am kinda pissed off at the Barca medical staff, it is more than "bad luck" that so many players are getting injured...
I also think its partly to do with the training staff, and how they co-ordinate with the medical staff. Also, how much pressure the higherups put on thier players to play.
I know a doctor for a major NFL franchise, and one time he told the star quarterback that he wasnt going to be able to play for another week. He was brought into the office, and told "we've been telling him for two weeks that he was going to play, we pay him millions a year, he's going to play. Dont EVER do that again". :eek:
I cant imagine that it would be any different for any other major club. :(

[akd]

But I think it is different with Messi, he was the one that was pressuring the return. If you check in Ole.com, there is an article that mentions that. I think Rikjaard and his inner circle wanted him off the pitch until he was fully recovered. Anyways, I blame the medical staff for not having taken extra precautions with such an important player (not only for Barca, but for Argentina as well)

[Alvey]

Despite who is to blame.... its awfully sad that we are going to miss such a talent on Barca for the upcomming games against milan. Good thing for Barca fans.. Dinho will be back and so will Motta for the CL games.

[west501]

I think they should be to blame for letting him train too soon
granted there is a lot of groupthink in these kinds of situations

[chauchey]

its pretty tough to put the finger on excatly who is to blame, when you arent there watching the situation, and you can only go on heresay and generalized sports media articles. regardless, i hope he's back, but not to early, and i hope he's fit and healthy for the wc! :)

[xacebop]

barca will win and look on the positive side, he will be fit for the final.

[chauchey]

against villa real right? ;) :p lol.

[bricktop]

is there any word as to how his recovery is going and when he'll be back? i love watching that boy play

[funkdoctorspock]

is there any word as to how his recovery is going and when he'll be back? i love watching that boy play

here you go... seems to be recovering well, although he picked up another injury...

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=382858&CPID=23&clid=178&lid=&title=Messi+making+good+progress

[akd]

here you go... seems to be recovering well, although he picked up another injury...

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=382858&CPID=23&clid=178&lid=&title=Messi+making+good+progress

No, he did not pick up another injury, it is just the stupid Argentine media trying to sell more by making up stuff. He actually had muscle fatigue which is quite normal after not having worked a certain muscle for a prolonged period of time. He should be fine for the 17th of May if not sooner for one or two games. I was actually hoping that he could play this Wednesday against Celta but that probably won't happen.