Messi says he ‘feels much better’ and hopeful of playing in Tokyo after PR disaster in Hong Kong
TOKYO — Lionel Messi is expected to play on Wednesday in Tokyo when Inter Miami meets Japanese club Vissel Kobe in a friendly.
This after Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain sat on the bench for an entire match against a selection of players from the Hong Kong league on Sunday, angering thousands of fans who have since demanded refunds.
According to a news report from The Associated Press, Messi showed up at a Tokyo hotel on Tuesday for his second news conference since joining Miami last June 7, and his first since August 17. He shared that depending on how training goes, he may make an appearance in the next match.
“The truth is that I feel very good compared to a few days ago,” Messi reportedly said in Spanish. “And depending on how that (training) goes. And if I’m honest, I still don’t know if I will be able to or not. But I feel much better and I really want to be able to do it.”
AP News said Messi tried to explain to Hong Kong fans that it was impossible for him to play with a groin injury.
“The truth is that it was bad luck that I couldn’t (play) on the day of the Hong Kong match,” Messi said, adding that the “discomfort continued and it was very difficult for me to play.”
“Unfortunately, in football, things can happen in any game, that we may have an injury. It’s a shame because I always want to participate, I want to be there, and even more so when it comes to these games when we travel so far and people are so excited to see our matches,” he continued.
The Asian tour wraps up on Wednesday in Tokyo’s National Stadium.
