World Cup winner and football’s shining star, Lionel Messi has been invited by his country to represent in the football team and play for Argentina in the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
Not an easy situation: Mascherano
The South Americans’ Under-23s coach Javier Mascherano who is a former team-mate of Messi has disclosed in a recent interview that he and the 36-year-old world-renowned football great are in talks but admits it is ‘not an easy situation’ and that Messi’s participation is hanging by a thread.
“I spoke with Leo and we have sent him an invitation to join us at the Games and we will keep on talking,” Mascherano told TyC Sports. “He has just started the season with Inter Miami. We still have some time until the Olympic Games. We also have to consider he also has the Copa América ahead this summer. It is not an easy situation for him,” he said.
Currently, Messi plays his club football in the U.S. and is supposed to lead Argentina’s defense of the Copa America over June and July this year.
We will give Messi all the time he needs to think about his options and talk to his club: Javier Mascherano
The football competition at the Paris 2024 Games is kicking off on 24 July. The demands of competing in two really big tournaments back-to-back at his age is something Messi would need to consider, feels Mascherano. “It’s Messi. He always plays at the highest level. And, of course, he has to manage his time as well. For that reason, we have no intention to bother or pressurize him. We’ve sent him an invitation, and we will give him all the time he needs to think about his options and talk with his club as well,” he said.
Bengali