This is the good news of the day for PSG and its coach Mauricio Pochettino. This Tuesday, almost a month after his last collective training, Lionel Messi found his teammates at Camp des Loges. The Argentinian took part in the afternoon session under the sun of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines), as shown in a video published by the club in the evening. A big smile alongside his Argentine compatriots Di Maria, Icardi or Paredes, juggling, passing and shooting on goal on the program, Messi finally comes back into play.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or had returned to Camp des Loges – without training with the group – on January 6, after returning from Argentina where he had spent the end-of-year holidays with his family and contracted Covid-19 the day after Christmas. He had to wait for a negative test to embark with his family in the direction of France on January 5.
Symptomatic, the former Barça player has therefore been training apart since. The medical staff wanted to take maximum precautions because of the illness and the risk of injury or fatigue that Covid-19 can cause in symptomatic people. Messi’s last appearance in collective training dated back to December 22, on the eve of the draw at Lorient (1-1) to conclude 2021.
The left-hander will now continue his reintegration with the group until the end of the week. If all goes well, he will apply for a starting place against Reims on Sunday evening in Ligue 1. Messi will then avoid a long trip to South America. After a discussion with his coach, Lionel Scaloni, he decided to skip the international break (January 24 – February 2) and the matches against Chile and Colombia with Argentina.
He will therefore take the opportunity to perfect his preparation with, as the main objective, to be 100% for the reception of Real Madrid, in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League on February 15. PSG receives Nice in the Coupe de France on January 31 at the Parc des Princes. He can count on Messi.