Argentina coach, Gerardo Martino, has said that Lionel Messi will not play at the Olympics later this year.
The Barcelona attacker helped his country win gold at the 2008 edition and it has been suggested that he could feature again in Rio de Janeiro.
However, Martino has poured cold water on such speculations and explained that he will not put the 28-year-old at risk of injury.
“Messi won’t go to the Olympic Games because there are a lot of competitions for the national team this year,” Martino told Radio La Red.
“We have the Copa America, the Olympics and after that a number of World Cup qualifiers. I want to win the Olympics very much but not at any price, nor for throwing the players on to the pitch for them to die there.
“The reality at Barcelona shows the season will be long.”
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