Lionel Messi given an extra week’s holiday with family by Barcelona to recover from his nightmare summer
Nou Camp chiefs desperate to keep Argentina superstar sweet after Copa America heartbreak and tax fraud conviction
LIONEL MESSI has been given an extra week holiday by Barcelona to recover from his nightmare summer.
The Argentinian ace had been due to return to training a week today with the rest of the Catalan club’s South American contingent.
But he will now be given until August 1 to rest before the new season.
Messi, 29, has been holidaying with long-term partner Antonella Roccuzzo and young sons Mateo and Thiago on a luxury yacht in Ibiza.
He last played in Argentina’s Copa America final defeat to Chile on June 26 – where he missed a crucial spot-kick in the deciding penalty shootout.
And Messi’s international heartbreak was compounded by seeing great rival Cristiano Ronaldo win Euro 2016 with Portugal to shoot ahead in the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The star, and father Jorge, were also sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud – although neither will serve any time behind bars.
Messi will appeal the conviction and was understood to be unhappy with the lack of support shown by Barcelona during the high profile case.
He has been linked with a world record transfer to Chelsea after SunSport revealed Jorge held secret talks with Blues owner Roman Abramovich last month.
And claims Nou Camp chiefs are willing to do anything to keep the frontman happy as they try to convince him to sign a new five-year deal with the club.
Messi will now miss the start of Barcelona’s camp at England’s training base St Georges Park which begins next Monday.
He will also sit out their first pre-season clash against Celtic in Dublin on June 30.
And he is likely to sit out matches against Premier League champions Leicester in Stockholm on August 3 and Liverpool at Wembley on August 6.