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Lionel Messi injury latest: Twist as Barcelona star joins squad, Inter manager reacts
LIONEL MESSI is back in the Barcelona squad and is expected to travel to Italy for Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Inter Milan.
Lionel Messi returns to Barcelona training after arm injury
Lionel Messi has been out injured with a broken arm and was not expected to play a part in the Champions League encounter.
The Barcelona superstar was injured in the 4-2 win over Sevilla last month.
He missed the 5-1 Clasico demolition of Real Madrid a week later and also sat out this weekend’s 3-2 win over Rayo Vallecano.
Barca want Messi back as quickly as possible and the 31-year-old has now returned to training with the first team.
He is all set to travel with Barca to Milan today as they prepare for the Champions League showdown with Inter.
But there are doubts over whether the Argentine really is ready to play in the San Siro.
A number of Italian newspapers are reporting that while Lionel Messi is set to travel, he is almost certain not to play.
Barca have remained coy over Messi’s injury status and manager Ernesto Valverde has refused to confirm his plans for the forward.
"I think we all play better with Messi in the side," Valverde said.
"We will see how he is in training [on Sunday] with regards to the Inter game this week."
Messi is the second all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 103 goals.
Only Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo (120) boasts more in the competition.
Luis Suarez has led the line for Barcelona in Messi’s absence but the Nou Camp club are aware the Uruguayan cannot be expected to shoulder the load on his own for too long.
As for Inter, their manager Luciano Spalletti is desperate for Messi not to take part on Tuesday night.
“I am hopeful that he does not play,” Spalletti said.
“He turns Barcelona into a spectacular attacking force when he is playing for them, so we would prefer that he is not playing.”