Audio By Carbonatix
Lionel Messi is set to make his first appearance in a Barcelona shirt on Saturday since unsuccessfully attempting to leave the club this summer.
Messi, 33, is one of 25 players called up by Ronald Koeman for a friendly against third division side Gimnastic de Tarragona at the Johan Cruyff stadium at the club's training ground.
United States youth international Konrad de la Fuente has also been included, while Philippe Coutinho could also be involved after returning from his loan spell with Bayern Munich.
However, there's no room for either Arturo Vidal or Luis Suarez. Koeman has told both players they are not in his plans for the upcoming season and sources have told ESPN their exits could be confirmed next week.
Vidal's move to Inter Milan could even be announced on Monday, but there are still some details to finalised surrounding Suarez's transfer to Juventus.
Messi, though, will be staying at the club. He returned to training on Monday after telling Goal that he wouldn't be pursuing the necessary legal action to try and force an exit.
"It's great, everyone knows he's the best player in the world, so to have that player in your team is exceptional," Koeman said on Friday of Messi's decision to stay.
"For us, it's now very important to have Leo in the best conditions to play, there's no question about his quality and it's fantastic that he'll be part of the season with Barcelona, everyone is really happy about that."
Meanwhile, Konrad, 19, could be in line for his first minutes with the senior side. The forward was an unused substitute in the Champions League win over Napoli in August and has been training with the first team since Koeman was appointed.
The Miami-native joined the club's academy in 2013 and has come through the ranks since. He was part of the B team that just missed out on promotion back into the second tier of Spanish football in July.
Ousmane Dembele also returns to a match squad for the first time since November after recovering from a knee injury, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic all miss out due to fitness issues.
Latest Stories
-
MGL’s May Day Egg market ends in resounding success as crowds turn out for affordable eggs
23 minutes -
Energy expert advocates increased private-sector role in power distribution to tackle dumsor
28 minutes -
Tony Asare Writes: A clotted artery, by-passes and detours
32 minutes -
No road project cancelled under Mahama’s reset agenda — Roads Minister
38 minutes -
Mahama praises IGP Yohunu, hails intelligence-led policing at Krobo-Odumase commissioning
39 minutes -
“Energy situation is stable” – John Jinapor assures Ghanaians
41 minutes -
Ghana Tuna Association reaffirms sustainability commitment on World Tuna Day
44 minutes -
Mahama commissions Odumase Krobo Divisional Police HQ, boosts operations with vehicles
1 hour -
Roads Minister urges contractors to stay on site, assures prioritised payments
1 hour -
Suhuyini credits Ameri plant for averting 2024 power crisis in Kumasi
1 hour -
Thirteen killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, health ministry says
2 hours -
Tano North MP sounds alarm over galamsey devastation, accuses officials of shielding perpetrators
2 hours -
Digital wealth, analog poverty: Why technology isn’t closing the gap
2 hours -
World Relays: Ghana miss automatic qualification after finishing 4th in heat
2 hours -
NACOC disrupts suspected drug network in Winneba ahead of Aboakyiri Festival
2 hours