By Ramiro Scandolo
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s Lionel Messi has recovered from the knee and hamstring worries that kept him out of Paris St Germain’s last two games and is in line to start in their World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on Friday.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said staff had worked separately with the 34-year-old Messi to prepare him for the mouth-watering double header against Uruguay in Montevideo and next Tuesday’s game at home to Brazil.
“In principle, we believe that Leo is good,” Scaloni told reporters. “Leo wants to play and I want him to play.”
Messi’s call up caused some unhappiness with PSG general manager Leonardo but Scaloni sought to play down any rift.
“We have a relationship with Leonardo and their (reaction) is understandable, that Messi has spent a lot of time with the national team recently,” Scaloni said.
“But there can be no doubt that we are within the rules calling him up. This has always been a problem for European clubs.”
Argentina are second in South America’s 10-team qualifying group, six points behind Brazil after 11 games.
The top four qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.
Winners of the Copa America in July, Argentina are unbeaten in 25 games, a run that stretches back to mid 2019.
(Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo; writing by Andrew Downie; editing by Ken Ferris)
