BUENOS AIRES, July 16 - Argentina are confident that Lionel Messi will take part at the Beijing Olympic Games despite reported opposition from his club Barcelona.
|
Messi of Argentina walks off field with award after playing Mexico in international friendly soccer match in San Diego. [Agencies]
|
Olympic team coach Sergio Batista said FIFA rules were on his side and he expected Messi to join the squad in one week's time as planned.
"From what FIFA has said, they have to let him go," Batista said in a television interview.
"The AFA (Argentina Football Association) have told me he will be there so I'm not worried about this. "
"And, of course, he wants to play for Argentina and wear this shirt." FIFA reiterated last week that clubs are obliged to release under-23 players for the August 7-23 Olympic soccer tournament.
But reports in Spain and Argentina say Barcelona still want to keep him for that period, which includes two rounds of Champions League qualifiers.
"Barcelona have been putting pressure on him," said Batista. "I can understand Barcelona because he's a very important player for them."
Olympic champions Argentina face Serbia, Ivory Coast and Australia in their first-round group.
The tournament, which features under-23 sides with three overage players allowed per team, has already produced several club-versus-country rows.
Germany's Werder Bremen have already said that Brazil's Diego and Serbia's Dusko Tosic are not going to the Games.
