Lionel Messi, Barcelona superstar, has rescinded his retirement to global football for the “love” of the Argentine nation.
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Just two months after retiring from global duty, the Argentine forward announced that he will be back for the country much to the delight of his fans.
In Messi’s statement, the soccer star said: “We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside”.
“I do not want to cause any harm, I have always tried to do the opposite and help wherever I could”.
Messi, who was depressed after the continental tournament loss to Chile in the championship match, immediately announced his retirement from the national team the same day of their loss. “But I love my shirt and my country too much”, he continued.
“I hope that we’ll be able to give them something to cheer about soon”, he said.
Bauza had met several of the Argentina squad in Barcelona recently, including Messi and Javier Mascherano, and left those meetings confident that the 29-year-old would return to worldwide duty in the near future.
The forward, who plays for Barcelona, announced his retirement from the national team in June after Argentina was defeated by Chile in the final of the Copa América Centenario.
That would have left Messi – one of the most best players in history at club level with Barca – having never won a major trophy with Argentina.
Along with Messi and Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano, seven Premier League players have also made it to the 27-man squad.
Messi has now confirmed that he will return, citing his “love” for Argentina as the main reason for changing his mind. “I will talk to him today and finish my list”.
“I sense that Messi wants” to rejoin the squad, Bauza told reporters on arriving back in Buenos Aires on Friday.
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The AFA, which had been led by Julio Grondona since the 1970s, has been in turmoil since his death in 2014.
