“Messi has a lot to give to Argentina,” – Barcelona and Argentina star

– Lionel Messi previously quitted international football

– The Argentina striker has made a dramatic return to Argentine national team

– Javier Mascherano speaks about Messi’s decision

Argentina and Barcelona star Javier Mascherano states that Messi’s short-lived international retirement was born of frustration

Recall that Argentina captain Lionel Messi called it quits with international football after Argentina’s Copa America 2016 final defeat.

After the defeat, a frustrated Barcelona star said:  “The national team is over for me. That’s four finals (lost,) it’s not for me. It’s a made decision, I think. I feel a great sadness right now that this is happening again. I missed my penalty, which was super important. That’s it”

GET for FREE: Get the latest sports news on Naij Sports

However, Messi has made a u-turn about quitting international football as he returns to the national team.

Messi

The star explained: “I love my country and the Albiceleste too much. There are too many existing problems in Argentine football right now and it wasn’t my intention to create one more. A lot of things went through my mind on that day and I seriously considered leaving for good, but I want to bring joy to Argentina and fight to fix things from the inside”.

And Mascherano reacted:  “Leo felt very frustrated after the final defeat. We all had our heads in other places. It’s very hard to pick yourself up after three final defeats in a row”.

The player stressed: “I don’t think Leo said 100 per cent that he was leaving, he was just very frustrated. But after thinking about things I think he realised he still has a lot to bring to the team and the country.”

Mascherano and Messi

He added: “He’s perhaps not that used to losing because he’s had such a fabulous career, but it’s part of life in sport. Obviously there is a new coach, he needs to pick up points in the qualifiers. We’ve got six key games and we really need to get the points. He needs to make sure we get the simple things right and improve the things he thinks we need to.”

Mascherano noted: “We haven’t won a title for so many years but we’ve always been competitive.”

Speaking about Messi’s career with Barcelona, Mascherano believes: “It’s the same every year. Leo is a very special player and we say every season that he looks more motivated than the season before. He’s looked motivated for the 10 years he’s been here.”

He explained: “He sets himself targets like any other player. It’s not more or less than before, just different challenges. He’s come back this year with the ambition of winning not only what we won last year, but to get further in the Champions League. I’m happy that he’s happy. That’s the most important thing.”

The post “Messi has a lot to give to Argentina,” – Barcelona and Argentina star appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read Naij.com 24/7.