“I’ve come across numerous accounts and heard various narratives regarding the events following the match in Hong Kong,” Lionel Messi remarks.
Lionel Messi has reiterated his rationale for abstaining from playing, following accusations of a “deliberate and calculated snub” due to his absence from a friendly match in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong government pressed for clarification from the event organizers after expressing “extreme disappointment” over Messi’s decision to not participate in a match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong XI earlier this month, as reported by The Athletic.
The situation escalated when the 36-year-old participated in a match against Vissel Kobe in Japan three days later, despite head coach Tata Martino later asserting that the decision to rest the player was due to an ongoing ailment affecting his star player.
Messi expanded on Martino’s statements regarding his adductor inflammation but proceeded to clarify why he didn’t participate in the match on Monday, addressing the issue and its repercussions.
“I’ve encountered various accounts and rumors regarding the events following the match in Hong Kong,” he stated in a video message posted on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo. “That’s why I wanted to provide an authentic explanation through this video to prevent the spread of misinformation.”
“As everyone knows, I always have the desire to play. I want to participate in every match. I’ve heard speculations that I didn’t want to play due to political reasons and other factors unrelated to the situation. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have traveled to Japan or China as I have numerous times in my career.”
“I’ve always maintained a close relationship with China, participating in various activities such as interviews, friendly matches, events, and games with Barcelona and the Argentina national team. As I mentioned during the press conference, I experienced inflammation in my adductor and couldn’t play. I felt discomfort during the first game in Saudi Arabia and attempted to play in the second game, but it exacerbated the condition.”
“I attempted to participate in the training session the day before to show my support for the fans, and I also engaged in the clinic with the children, but I genuinely couldn’t play due to the discomfort.”
“After a few days, I felt somewhat better, which led me to participate in the friendly match in Japan to continue my physical improvement and preparation for future engagements. It was crucial for me to regain my rhythm through playing.”
“I’ve reiterated this before, but I believe it’s essential to emphasize it again after all the speculation. I want to convey my affection to the people of China, a sentiment I’ve always held for them. I hope to reunite with them soon.”
According to Martino, the decision to include Messi for 30 minutes in the match against Vissel Kobe was made after the team’s practice the previous evening.
“After Tuesday’s evening practice, Messi expressed feeling well, and we mutually agreed that he would play for 30 minutes,” Martino stated. “We are pleased with the outcome of the game as Messi appeared very comfortable.”
Martino had previously remarked after the match against Hong Kong XI: “It was indeed a considerable risk to even play him for a few minutes.”
Comments
Post a Comment