FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi was spotted during the team’s group workout on Wednesday, as the club shared the photos of the training on Twitter. The six Ballon d’Or winner was pictured alongside Philippe Coutinho, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong, the occasion which marked his return to group training after the announcement on 4 September that he had decided to stay with the team.
According to some Twitter reactions, the Argentinian did not look as if he was really enjoying the training.
“Can almost see the chains on Messi”, one Twitter user wrote.
Some other users were simply surprised to see striker Luis Suarez among the players, following reports that the Uruguayan footballer was not a part of new manager Ronald Koeman’s plans for the club’s future.
Ronald Koeman, who played for Barcelona in the 1990s, succeeded Quique Setién as head coach in August.
On Tuesday, Mundo Deportivo suggested that Koeman’s new tactics will include employing Messi as a “false right winger” on the field and relieving him from most of his defence duties.
Messi has won the Champions League four times with Barca and has been at the club since 2003.