World News
Messi's Olympic Green Light
BARCELONA'S Lionel Messi will play at the Olympic Games after convincing the club's board of directors to let him join the Argentina team in Beijing.
Messi is part of a preliminary list named by coach Sergio Batista to play at the Games in August.Messi told Radio La Red: "I'm looking forward to flying to Argentina to start training with both the seniors and the Under-23 squad.
"I have already arranged everything with Barcelona to play in Beijing."
It is welcome news for Batista, who learnt this week that recently crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich would not be releasing defender Martin Demichelis.
Messi is part of the 17-man squad Batista has named to play Catalonia at the Nou Camp on May 24 as warm-up to the Olympics, alongside other high profile players such as Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, Real Madrid duo Fernando Gago and Federico Higuain, and Birmingham winger Mauro Zarate.
Messi also congratulated compatriot Carlos Tevez for winning the Premier League title with Manchester United at the weekend.
"Carlitos is a great player and he has enough qualities to be in the national team," Messi added.
"Players like him must always play in the national team."
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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