Lionel Messi to skip Barcelona's game against Eibar with extended Christmas holiday - reports
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Updated 27/12/2020 at 11:49 GMT
Lionel Messi has been granted an extension to his four-day Christmas break by Ronald Koeman and is still in his native Argentina seeing friends and family. He will miss Tuesday's Camp Nou meeting with Eibar but is expected to return to the fold ahead of the fixture against Huesca on January 3.
Ronald Koeman of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Real Valladolid v FC Barcelona on December 22, 2020
Image credit: Getty Images
Lionel Messi has not returned to Barcelona training ahead of Tuesday's match against Eibar after being granted an extended Christmas holiday in Argentina, according to widespread reports in Spain.
La Liga clubs have had their winter break slashed, with the 2020-21 season taking place over eight months rather than nine thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
Messi left Spain for his home city of Rosario after scoring in the 3-0 win over Valladolid in December 22.
His team-mates had to return to the club's training ground on Sunday to undergo Covid-19 testing ahead of the new season, but their skipper has been granted a few days' additional rest with his friends and family.
He will miss Tuesday's fixture against Eibar at Camp Nou but will return in the new year for the away match against Huesca.
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