Argentina Coach Edgardo Bauza has appeared to backtrack on comments he made blaming Barcelona on Lionel Messi’s latest injury.
Bauza had said on Thursday that “Barca did not take care of Messi”, with clear frustration that the attacker would miss his country’s matches against Peru and Paraguay next month and threatening a club-versus-country row to erupt over the star.
“I want to clarify that I don’t want to fight with Barcelona,” the 58-year-old told Sport on Friday.
“It’s the opposite; we wish to work together for the good of Messi, who’s not just any old player.
“What I said was in a context that has not been reflected in the reports, I said that everyone is responsible for taking care of Messi.”
The 29-year-old is set to miss the next three weeks with a torn adductor muscle in his right leg, which Bauza had previously questioned the validity of, stating such an injury usually takes longer to heal.
