Messi suffered his third and most
serious muscle injury of the season earlier this month in a 4-1 win
away to Real Betis and is not expected to return to action until after
the La Liga winter break in January.
"Once he has
finished the first part of his recuperation, Lionel Messi will travel on
Friday to Argentina, as had been planned, to begin the second phase
under the supervision of the club's medical services," said a statement
on the club's website.
"Doctor Ricard Pruna and
physical trainer Elvio Paulorroso will travel to Argentina in the middle
of December to supervise the final part of his recovery from the
injury. His progress is positive, as the latest tests carried out have
shown."
It is expected that Messi will return to
Barcelona at the beginning of the new year with the Catalans hopeful he
will be fit to face high-flying Atletico Madrid on January 12.
The
Spanish champions have generally coped well without their injured
superstar as they lead La Liga by three points from Atletico and have
qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.
However,
they slipped to their first defeat of the campaign in all competitions
on Tuesday as they produced a dismal display in losing 2-1 away to
10-man Ajax in the Champions League. — Agence France Presse
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