Well, that was short-lived. Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza’s trip out to Barcelona has to be deemed a resounding success with the news that Lionel Messi has decided to reverse his decision to retire from international football.
Rather than keep his country in limbo, Messi now appears set to star for Argentina in their September World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela — an outcome that looked impossible at the end of June.
“I see that there are a lot of problems in Argentina football and I don’t want to create more. I don’t want to cause harm, on the contrary, my goal was to help in any way I could,” reads a statement from Messi.
“There are many things that need to be fixed in Argentine football. But I prefer to help from inside rather than stand on the outside and criticize.
“A lot of things ran through my head on the day of the [Copa America] final. And I seriously considered leaving the team. But I love my shirt and my country too much.
“I want to thank all the fans who wanted me to keep playing for Argentina. I hope we can give them joy very soon.”
Bauza insists that his discussion with Messi was simply about football and that he never pleaded with the Barcelona forward over returning.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he wants to return to play for the national team. I saw him with a great desire to return,” said Bauza upon returning to Argentina.
Lionel Messi is joined in Argentina’s squad list for the September qualifiers by some other names that were rumored to be following in Messi’s footsteps in quitting the side, namely: Sergio Romero, Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia, Ever Banega and Sergio Aguero.
(H/T: ESPN FC)
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