FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.07.2008 10:22

Messi waiting for FIFA’s decision

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Lionel Messi explained his feelings on the situation surrounding his participation in the Olympic Games before jetting off to Italy to play for Barcelona in a friendly and Fiorentina.

The Argentinian international said that he will do what FIFA say: "I want to clear things up," he said. "I understand that position of the club because we are playing for so much. From the start I have said that I want to play for my national team and at no time have there been any problems until now. I am waiting to see what FIFA says and if they say I do not have to go then I will not go and if they say I have to go then I will go without waiting for the outcome of the TAS, because that would be too late and my team-mates and the national team coaching staff are waiting for me. If once I am there, Tas says that I have to return then I will return, but for the time being I want to be with my national team and my colleagues."

Understanding the club

"Barça maintain their position to not let me go and I understand that and I think they are right, but I also think that they have to understand that my dream is to play for my country at the Olympic Games."

On the possibility that he could play in the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers for Barça and then travel for the quarter finals of the Olympic Games, Messi stated: "I have already told that was not on, that the national team did not want that, which is normal because they want a group of players to work with the whole time."