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Lionel Messi: Barcelona reveal latest fitness update ahead of Inter Milan clash
LIONEL MESSI has been included in Barcelona’s squad for their Champions League match against Inter Milan, despite breaking his arm only two weeks ago.
Lionel Messi returns to Barcelona training after arm injury
The 31-year-old is a surprise inclusion on Barca’s squad list due to the severity of his injury, but there is a catch.
The Argentinian will travel with the squad “without the medical all-clear”, which raises doubts he will actually feature in the match in Italy.
Messi suffered the injury against Sevilla on October 20 and Barcelona’s boss Ernesto Valverde has made it clear he won’t be taking any risks with the player’s recovery.
Barca's captain and all-time top scorer returned to training last week, but the absence of their talisman has not stopped the team winning games, including putting in a dominating performance against Real Madrid in El Clasico.
Leo Messi travels to Milan without medical all-clear
"It was an arm injury so it's normal that he's back training quickly, so he can keep in shape and be in contact with his teammates," Valverde said.
"We're going to wait. It's only two weeks since the problem, it's soon, so we still have to wait.
"The team's form is not making me more cautious with Leo - I'm being cautious because of injury he has.”
The Catalan giants beat Sevilla 4-2 and then convincingly beat Inter Milan in the Champions League 2-0, before winning 5-1 against their bitter rivals Madrid.
Barca followed this up by dispatching Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey with 1-0 win and this Saturday beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in La Liga.
Barcelona are top of Group B in the Champions League with nine points, as they go into the game against Inter at the San Siro on Tuesday.
A win over the Serie A side would secure Barca’s passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
However, Valverde has made it clear that he is going to be cautious with Messi’s return.
"If Messi was ready tomorrow, he'd be there and we would be stronger,” Valverde said before their victory against Vallecano.
“He gives us that differential factor and we maintain the block and the sense of the team.
“So, the only thing with Leo is the affect it could have on his injury.
“We want him back. With Leo, we're better."