Lionel Messi rested for Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan as Ernesto Valverde doesn’t name superstar in much-changed squad – which includes academy sensations Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig
- Barcelona star Lionel Messi will not travel to Inter Milan in Champions League
- Spaniards have already qualified and Ernesto Valverde is resting some players
- Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique are also being rested, while youngsters come in
- Ansu Fati, Riqui Puig and Ronald Araujo are among starlets joining the first-team
Lionel Messi has been left out of Barcelona’s squad to face Inter Milan on Tuesday night as Ernesto Valverde opts to rest his star man in a much-changed line-up.
Messi scored a hat-trick against Mallorca on Saturday night and will now have a week to rest, with the first Clasico of the season against Real Madrid just nine days away.
Instead, Valverde has included a number of academy stars in his group for the trip to Milan, with Ansu Fati recalled and Riqui Puig also among the group.
Lionel Messi will not play against Inter Milan on Tuesday after being rested by Ernesto Valverde
Ansu Fati has been recalled to Barcelona’s squad after dropping out for the Mallorca game
Sergi Roberto and Gerard Pique are also being rested and will stay behind in Barcelona, while Ousmane Dembele, Nelson Semedo, Jordi Alba and Arthur all miss out through injury.
Centre back Ronald Araujo and right back Dani Morer are also among the youthful squad set to feature in the club’s final Champions League group game, with Barca having already secured their spot at the top of the group.
Messi’s absence will come as a huge boost for Inter Milan, who are level on points with Borussia Dortmund and desperately battling to secure their passage to the knockout stages of the competition.
While Antonio Conte’s side host Barcelona, Dortmund face bottom side Slavia Prague in a home match of their own.
Academy sensation Riqui Puig will also travel with the squad to Milan for the Inter game
Valverde (left) has named a much-changed squad with Barcelona having already qualified
