Only Messi Can Make Argentina Decision – Iniesta

Barcelona club captain Andres Iniesta says his Blaugrana colleague Lionel Messi should make a personal decision over whether to play for his country again — as reports in South America claim a return to the Albiceleste fold is close.

Messi made the shock decision to retire from international football following the penalty shootout loss to Chile in this summer’s Copa America final, Argentina’s third successive defeat in a major tournament final.

New national coach Edgardo Bauza has made it an immediate priority to get the five time Ballon d’Or winner to reverse this decision — and has said he plans to travel to Europe soon to convince Messi to come back for September’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela.

Argentine paper Ole has now claimed that Messi will accept Bauza’s request and the situation will be cleared up quickly.

Views on the matter are more mixed in Catalonia, where some fans and pundits might see a benefit for Barcelona in their key player, now 29, resting during international breaks instead of regularly flying back to South America.

Asked about Messi’s situation at a news conference after Barca training on Friday morning, Iniesta said the most important thing was for his teammate to be comfortable with whatever decision he ultimately makes.

“The best thing is for Messi to be happy doing what he is doing and where he is,” Iniesta said. “He must look at what is best for himself, and be where he is comfortable. He looks the same as always to me — enjoying his football and being with his teammates. He is motivated to train and remain No. 1.”