Argentine Messi has been out of action for almost two months with a knee injury, while Croatia global Rakitic has not played since suffering a calf muscle tear against BATE Borisov in the Champions League on 4 November.
Advertisement
According to a statement on Barcelona’s official website:”The first team returned to training on Monday after three days rest and began with a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the recent attacks in the French capital Paris”.
“I’d rather play with him than against him!”
Xavi says former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, eclipsing the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona.
AS reports Messi’s return to training following a knee injury is going well and he was involved in a session on Tuesday that was conducted without issue.
Messi hasn’t played since he was injured at the end of September in Barca’s win over Las Palmas. The problem is when the player hits the ball with his instep, which reproduces the mechanism of the injury. “But honestly, I don’t see it. You never know in football, but he is very happy at Barcelona and I don’t know if he will ever change clubs”.
“And Messi stands out as the best at the best time in the history of football”.
Advertisement
Barca have performed well in the absence of the four-time Ballon d’Or victor, with four straight league victories propelling Luis Enrique’s men to the top of Primera Liga, three points ahead of arch-rivals Madrid in second.
