This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has ruled out Lionel Messi from playing in the La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao on Friday, citing the Argentine's calf injury.
Valverde stated that Messi has not yet returned to full training and that individual training sessions on sand do not prepare him for a match.
"We never like to risk any players and much less someone like Leo," Valverde said in a news conference on Thursday.
Barcelona have spent over 200 million euros on signings, including Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann, but continue to be linked with a second swoop for Neymar.
Valverde refused to answer questions about the club's interest in Neymar and expressed frustration with the Spanish transfer window not shutting before the season starts.
"It's inconvenient and it's not logical," Valverde said. "The normal thing would be that the team you start with is the same one that will compete for the whole season."
