Lionel Messi denied claims that his absence from a match in Hong Kong two weeks in the past, which angered China, was a political assertion. Instead, he clarified that it was as a consequence of an harm.
Despite being idolized by followers in China, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remained on the bench throughout Inter Miami’s 4-1 victory in a pre-season tour match in opposition to a Hong Kong choose XI on Feb. 4.
The practically 40,000 sellout crowd, who had paid upwards of 1,000 Hong Kong {dollars} ($125) to observe the 36-year-old famous person play, expressed their disappointment by chanting “Refund!” and booing Messi and the workforce’s co-owner, David Beckham, after the match.
Some nationalist politicians seen Messi’s absence as a deliberate snub to China, particularly for the reason that Argentine star was match sufficient to play for half-hour in a pleasant match a number of days later in Japan.
In a video posted on China’s Weibo social media platform late on Monday, the World Cup-winning captain rejected claims that his no-show was “for political reasons.”
“If that had been the case,” he mentioned, “I would not have traveled to Hong Kong in the first place.”
“As everyone knows, I always want to play and be in every game,” he mentioned.
Messi spoke in his video of a “very nice and very close” relationship with China, a rustic with which he mentioned he had “done a lot of things.”
His purpose for not taking part in was harm, he mentioned, particularly “inflammation of an adductor” muscle.
Fans on Weibo reacted rapidly to the video, some in assist of Messi.
“I believe the player I have always loved would never look at his fans with any kind of prejudice,” wrote one consumer, including, “he always values every fan.”
“I still can’t understand how such a supreme footballer, the greatest of all time, can be pilloried online to the extent that he is considered not to love China just for missing a friendly match,” one other fan wrote.
Not everybody was appeased.
“Turns out it’s still hard to say sorry after all,” learn one Weibo remark.
“Give it a rest,” mentioned one other. “Run off to Japan and drink sewage.”
Messi starred final June when Argentina beat Australia in Beijing in a pleasant, scoring within the opening minutes in entrance of an adoring crowd.
But subsequent month’s Argentina friendlies in opposition to Nigeria in Hangzhou and Africa champions Ivory Coast in Beijing have been cancelled after Messi did not play in Hong Kong.
Source: www.dailysabah.com