Barcelona news LIVE: Lionel Messi fitness doubts, Barca issue Real Madrid orders

Barcelona news LIVE: Lionel Messi fitness doubts, Barca issue Real Madrid orders

Barcelona news LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest updates from the Nou Camp Tuesday, March 5Barcelona are pushing to STOP Lionel Messi from representing ArgentinaBarcelona chiefs are worried about Messi’s fitnessA call from Andres Iniesta was enough to convince Sergi Samper to leave BarcelonaBarcelona have urged Frenkie de Jong to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions LeagueLionel Messi doubts Barcelona are reportedly pushing to STOP Lionel Messi from representing Argentina during the international break. That’s according to Argentine publication Superclasico, who claim Barcelona chiefs are worried about Messi’s fitness. Messi, 31, hasn’t featured for Argentina since their 2018 World Cup campaign but has been named in Lionel Scaloni’s squad for fixtures against Venezuela and Morocco. Superclasico claim the original plan was for Messi to play against Venezuela in Spain and miss the friendly with Morocco. However, the latest reports suggest the Catalan club are pushing for their talisman to miss both.Sergi Samper farewell A call from Andres Iniesta was enough to convince Sergi Samper to leave Barcelona and join Japanese side Vissel Kobe. Samper, 24, agreed to terminate his contract to move to Kobe, where he will be reunited at his new club with Iniesta, who ended a trophy-laden spell with the Catalans last year to move to Japan, and former Barca striker David Villa. “Andres was key, he called me many times and told me it was a good club to grow at, and Gerard was the one who told me the news so I’m very grateful to him for that,” Samper said. “Andres has told me that Kobe want to play like Barca and that their style of play will suit me and I’ll be able to enjoy myself.” Do us a favour, Frenkie… Frenkie de Jong has revealed his future club Barcelona have urged him and his Ajax team mates to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League ahead of Tuesday’s last-16 second leg. The Netherlands international, 21, has agreed to join La Liga champions Barcelona next season, completing a transfer in January for an initial £65million. But for now he is focusing on Tuesday’s trip to the Bernabeu and attempting to overhaul a 2-1 deficit from the first leg against Real. “I spoke to them when I signed the contract and they told me to try to knock out Real Madrid, as that would be great for Barca too,” De Jong said. De Jong urged his side to be courageous and believes they can still cause a shock by eliminating Madrid, who have lost their last three games at the Bernabeu and were beaten 1-0 and 3-0 by Barcelona in their previous games. “We have to play on the attack, put them under pressure and play great football,” he added. “If everyone contributes, we have enough quality to cause a surprise.”

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