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Lionel Messi believes that it is better not to think too much about the risk of being infected with the coronavirus as Spanish soccer clubs intensify their return to activity, and he says he hopes to play games again.
Messi and his teammates from Barcelona have returned to the club’s training ground holding individual sessions since last week, following the La Liga four-phase protocol to return to activity, as it stopped in March due to the pandemic.
The remaining 11 rounds of matches in La Liga will take place without spectators, and President Javier Tebas said last week that matches could start on June 12.
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While some players and clubs have spoken out against football returning for fear of catching the virus or passing it on to others, Messi said returning to matches was no more risky than leaving home for any other reason.
“There is a risk of infection everywhere, when you leave your house there is a risk, so I think we should not think too much about it because if you do, you will not want to go anywhere,” Messi told the Spanish newspaper. Sports world on Friday.
“But we must understand that it is essential that we comply with protocols and follow prevention measures as much as we can. Returning to training is the first step, but we must not be complacent and we must take all necessary precautions.”
Messi said he is excited to return to the games, but expressed opposition to the La Liga proposal that the teams be quarantined together, away from their families, once the games are resumed.
“Personally, I hope that the competition returns. We know that everything will be very strange, with no one in the stands, I have done it before and I discovered it,” said the Barça captain.
“Regarding quarantining, we really don’t like the idea of being separated from our families, but we will have to see what the final plan is.”