Barça Give Messi Permission To Stay At Olympics @ OleOle

Barça Give Messi Permission To Stay At Olympics

Thursday 7th August by fcbnews_nic · 27 Comments

As suggested here yesterday, Barça have taken the decision not to recall Leo Messi for the Champions League game against Wisla Krakow thus allowing the player to compete in the Olympic Games in China. It seems Barça have come to an agreement with the Argentine Football Association whereby Messi will be insured against injury during the tournament and Argentina will renounce using Messi in any friendly matches this season. Given that Messi was already in China, and that it seemed to be his wish to play the Olympics, I feel Barça have taken a wise decision to let him stay.

Messi celebrated the decision by scoring in Argentina's opening game which ended in a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. Messi opened the scoring on 43 minutes then Cissé equalised early in the second half. With five minutes remaining Messi forced a save from Angban the Ivorian keeper, and Lautaro Acosta scored from the rebound to win it for Argentina.

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27 Responses so far →

1. Diatus Wrote: | 17.27CEST | Aug 7, 2008

And we had this kind of preseason, pretty much without our star player...Pouf, I can't wait for things to get started. Yeah, we have class and Catalans know how to take advantage...very nice deal!!!

2. Rivaldinho Wrote: | 17.36CEST | Aug 7, 2008

Good decision.

3. Barcel Wrote: | 18.22CEST | Aug 7, 2008

Best thing could ever happen to Messi. And when Messi comes back from the Olympics Barca will be even stronger...... If Barca have another trophyless season, especially with all these great players I think Laporta should LEAVE

4. blaugranaboy Wrote: | 19.03CEST | Aug 7, 2008

good to let him stay. avoiding bigger problems later

5. barcacanada Wrote: | 19.52CEST | Aug 7, 2008

i would say this is a win-win situation. too bad it took so long to be made. now all messi has to do is truly stay injury-free!! fingers crossed for that.

6. Right_Upper_V Wrote: | 19.58CEST | Aug 7, 2008

Crossing my fingers too!

7. jwend18 Wrote: | 21.24CEST | Aug 7, 2008

Good decision ....... if they din't, they would have lost a lot of fans.

8. LordOfTheWing Wrote: | 21.38CEST | Aug 7, 2008

What was all the fuss about if they were going to let him stay anyway?

9. blaugrana_namibia Wrote: | 21.43CEST | Aug 7, 2008

NO recall him we need him to score 5 against wisla

10. Kimi10 Wrote: | 21.49CEST | Aug 7, 2008

good decision..no need to call him back! we are able to win CL game without him. GO BARCA!!!

11. Garrett Wrote: | 21.59CEST | Aug 7, 2008

I bet my best friend $100 that Brazil will finish farther than Italy at the Olympics. Good bet or crappy one? Opinions welcome

12. SoccerFan Wrote: | 22.00CEST | Aug 7, 2008

Good to hear. The question is what will Barca do if they lose first leg? But I suspect the Olympics will be winding down by then. I'm not sure anyone know if Messi would be back for second leg?

13. layibiyi Wrote: | 22.55CEST | Aug 7, 2008

lose 1st leg???????soccerfan, dont tink thats possible at nou camp

14. jc_cool Wrote: | 04.11CEST | Aug 8, 2008

barca losing to wisla in the first leg???is that a joke???

15. Pequito Wrote: | 09.22CEST | Aug 8, 2008

Two thumbs up for Barça's decision!

16. Varughese Wrote: | 14.36CEST | Aug 8, 2008

The only winner in all this mess is Sepp Blatter. Now he has got full authority to include Olympics in Official Calendar. He has already stated his intention. IOC should support his move.

17. Valo_Endara Wrote: | 16.14CEST | Aug 8, 2008

This is good. Last night Messi came out and thanked Barcelona, Pep, his team mates. This is important because Barca needs for Messi to be happy. There cannot be a rift between our new #10 and the new coach. There cannot be a rift between Messi and the rest of the squad. I think Barca needs to perform with and without Messi. I am looking forward to seeing Barca play Boca Juniors as well as Wisla. They have a lot to prove.

18. ManoGil Wrote: | 16.36CEST | Aug 8, 2008

It's not just Barça who gave permission for Messi to stay but the thing is what could they have done if Messi simply said "Hey, i'm stayng with the National Tem, period." They would give him a fine? That's ok, he has tons of money. Bench him? I don't think so. So I'd rather have him happy when he returns then have him mad at the club during the whole season. Injuries? well he could get injured at practice with Barça, or at that first pre-Champions League match... Injuries just happen.

19. Valo_Endara Wrote: | 17.17CEST | Aug 8, 2008

I know this has nothing to do with anything. But I thought some of you might enjoy playing this little flash game featuring a player i completely dislike( cronaldo) and a team i totally hate (rmadrid) :
LINK

20. blaugrana_namibia Wrote: | 20.30CEST | Aug 8, 2008

LINK

21. blaugrana_namibia Wrote: | 20.32CEST | Aug 8, 2008

goal.com says david silva is ""VERY''' near to signing for us its good news but then why did we sign hleb we're is he gona play if sival comes in??? anyone???http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=810469

22. Barca4Lyf Wrote: | 22.32CEST | Aug 8, 2008

Letting him go is da only way of keepin happy so good decision blaugrana namibia I hope Silva comin 2 Barca is true!!!

23. skizzG Wrote: | 22.59CEST | Aug 8, 2008

Silva would play on the left, correct? Messi and Silva lining up on each wing just gives me the chills! Although I don't know what we'd do with Hleb...

24. blaugrana_namibia Wrote: | 23.37CEST | Aug 8, 2008

skizzg didn't we get chills about "the fantastic 4' look how that turned out

25. skizzG Wrote: | 01.10CEST | Aug 9, 2008

to be honest, when Henry was brought on, i didnt think it would be an instant success. the main reason being that Henry would directly replace one of the big 3 (ronnie, eto'o or messi). also, he's older, had injuries and was not proven in La Liga. the summer Henry came i was as hopeful as anyone, but i didn't quite know how it would work out.

Silva on the other hand is very young, coming off a Euro title and also a proven player La Liga. i dont think its a similar case to Henry.

26. Barcel Wrote: | 02.04CEST | Aug 9, 2008

I am not worried about D.Silva comming to Barca, what i am worried about is the amount of money barca has spent this summer, it's really scarey, we have to be financially worried about the club also

27. RUtalking2me? Wrote: | 15.05CEST | Aug 9, 2008

I agree with you " skizz G" with your Silva vs. Henry analogy. In addition of being younger, injury free and possessing La Liga quality, he has something that Henry desperately lacks : TALENT !!