Messi trains alone as Barca squad get day off

Six time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi was the only player who turned up at FC Barcelona’s training complex on Thursday (September 10) for a workout. This was despite the rest of the squad being asked to take the day off by head coach, Ronaldo Koeman.

The Argentine has been cocooned since reporting back for training on Monday as he looks to get back to fitness, having to train individually at first due to LaLiga’s coronavirus protocols and then not completing the double sessions held later in the week.

Keen to make up for lost time, Messi has often been the first player to arrive at the training ground and this Thursday he was there alone. Messi also donated gift to a blind Arsenal fan.  

The Argentine has teamed up with Israeli company OrCam to help pay for expensive high-tech glasses, which can cost as much as £4,200 each. Many visually impaired people won’t be able to afford the item and Messi stepped in to donate a pair to a young “Gooner”.  

Mikey, 10, from Enfield, was given the special glasses by Messi, and the Sun claims the 33-year-old plans to continue making similar donations of this kind. 

Speaking about his role in helping blind children, Messi said: “The emotion was incredible. Meeting with this amazing group of people from around the world was truly a magical and inspiring moment.”