Lionel Messi may miss the start of the league season for Barcelona after sustaining a calf injury, the club has confirmed.
A statement on the club’s website on Monday confirmed the player would miss the remainder of the team’s pre-season due to having a ‘Grade I calf strain’.
It followed a report in El Mundo that the attacking star limped out of training on Monday morning “due to discomfort in his right leg” and has had to undergo medical tests.
Messi will not be able to play in the friendly double header against Italian side Napoli on Wednesday 7 and Saturday 10 August, and his goal will be to try to be ready for the start of the league season.
The usual periods of recovery for these type of injuries range between two and three weeks, so the forward may not be available to play in the first league game of the season – a trip to San Mames to play Athletic Club.
That match is scheduled for 16 August, on a Friday night, but the Spanish FA have tried to overturn these games to be played on 17 August – the Saturday.