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Lionel Messi
In what could be a sad news for US Soccer followers, who would have liked to witness Lionel Messi in action, Barcelona has decided to rest the two times FIFA player of the year for the club’s US tour. The Catalans will be playing three matches in US as part of their pre-season tour.
Lionel Messi, and other members of the club like Daniel Alves, Javier Mascherano and Alexis Sanchez, who represented their nation in the Copa America have been rested for the three-match US tour.
Messi was widely criticized for his peripheral role during the Copa America, where he failed to score a single goal for the Argentinians and disappointed during a quarter final exit at the hands of eventual champions Uruguay. He was even labeled a ‘cretin’ in some quarters for performing so poorly, a claim that many felt was unduly harsh.
Barcelona will open their tour this Saturday, playing against their continental rival Manchester United in suburban Washington, a rematch of the 2010-2011 Champions League final, which the EPL Champions lost by three goals to one.
Next in line to face the visitors would be Mexican sides Chivas Guadalajara on August 3 in Miami while Major League Soccer side Club America would play them on August 6 at Texas.
