19 February 2024 , 19:02
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Lionel Messi has responded to rumours of why he did not play in Hong Kong during Inter Miami 's pre-season tour.
The superstar took to Chinese social media platform Weibo to explain his stance, clearing up why he did not feature in the game. Representatives and politicians from China and Hong Kong were furious with Messi, even canceling Argentinian national team games scheduled for next month.
On Weibo, Messi said in a video: "I've read and heard many things that have been said after the game in Hong Kong. I wanted to record this video and give you the true version so nobody has to continue reading false stories.
"I've heard people say that I didn't want to play for political reasons and many other reasons that are totally untrue. If that was true, I wouldn't have even traveled to Japan or visited China, as I have many times. Since the start of my career, I've had a very close and special relationship with China."
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He then explained that he had been carrying an injury after a pre-season game in Saudi Arabia, which has limited his playing minutes.
He said: "As I said in the press conference, I had an inflamed adductor and I couldn't play in the first game in Saudi Arabia, which is when I felt it. In the second game I tried to play for a bit, but it got worse. Then on the day before the game (in Hong Kong) I tried to train and made an effort for all those who had come to watch training.
Lionel Messi did not play in Hong Kong (Getty Images)"It felt a bit better a few days later and that's why I played for a bit in Japan to prepare fitness-wise for everything to come because I needed to play and get back up to speed."
Officials from China and Hong Kong, along with fans from the nation were upset when the 36-year-old came off the bench three days later in a friendly match in Tokyo. Since then, Hangzhou and Beijing have said they won't host Argentina games scheduled for March. Games were lined up against Ivory Coast and Nigeria but have since been cancelled.
Messi played 60 minutes of Miami's final pre-season friendly against Newell's Old Boys on Friday, his boyhood club in Argentina. The game finished 11, and Miami boss Gerardo Martino gave an update on Messi's fitness ahead of the new MLS campaign.
Martino told reporters: "Our plan was for Leo to play 45 to 60 minutes and he played almost 60 and felt good. The way he was playing, the way he accelerated, it looked like he is fully recovered. The idea is for him to be ready for the 21st."