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Lionel Messi has again tried to explain his absence from a friendly in Hong Kong after being accused of a “deliberate and calculated snub” by not playing.
The Hong Kong government said it was “extremely disappointed” that Messi was unable to play in a match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong XI earlier this month and demanded an explanation from the event organisers.
Coach Tata Martino later claimed that the decision not to play the 36-year-old was due to an ongoing injury to his star player, but the situation was further aggravated when he played against Vissel Kobe in Japan three days later.
Messi expanded on Martino’s comments by indicating that he had suffered inflammation in his adductor, but in addressing the problem and subsequent consequences on Monday he went further and clarified why he did not play.
“I have read and heard many things about what happened after the match in Hong Kong,” he said in a video message posted on Chinese social media website Weibo. “That’s why I wanted to make this video to give the real explanation and avoid reading false reports.
“As everyone knows, I always want to play. I want to play in all the games. I heard that he didn’t want to play because of politics and many other things that have nothing to do with this. If that were the case I would not have traveled to Japan or China as I have done so many times in my career.
“I have always had a very close relationship with China. I have done so many things with China such as interviews, (friendly) matches, events and matches with Barcelona and the Argentine national team. As I said in the press conference I gave: I had inflammation in my adductor and I couldn’t play. I felt it in the first game I played in Saudi Arabia and I tried to play in the second game (in Saudi Arabia), but I felt worse.
“The day before I tried to participate in that training to be there for all those people. I did what I could and participated in the clinic with all those children, but honestly I couldn’t play because I felt discomfort.
“After a few days I felt a little better and that’s why I played a little in the friendly in Japan to continue improving physically and continue preparing for what’s to come. I had to play to get some rhythm back.
“I already said this but I felt it was important to repeat it after everything that was said. I want to send my love to the people of China, a (feeling) I have always had with them. I hope we can see each other again soon.”
Martino previously said that the decision to play Messi for 30 minutes against Vissel Kobe was only agreed after the team’s training session the night before.
“After training on Tuesday afternoon, he (Messi) said he felt good and we agreed that he would play 30 minutes,” he said. “We are very happy now that he finished the game because Messi seemed very comfortable.”
Martino had already said after the match against the Hong Kong XI: “It really was a huge risk to even play with him for a few minutes.”
Inter Miami begins its MLS season against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.
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(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)