Lionel Messi is expected to return to Barcelona training in the days following Tuesday's visit from Eibar after being granted an extended break.
The Argentine star is "completing the treatment for his right ankle," the club said.
The veteran attacker was allowed to fly to his homeland of Argentina during the festive period. He wasn't with his teammates when they reconvened on the practice pitches after their own time away.
💪 Back to training!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 27, 2020
📍 Tito Vilanova pitch
👤 Leo Messi is expected to rejoin training after #BarçaEibar pic.twitter.com/njK2x7f2TL
Barcelona said Messi will be back in time for next Sunday's trip to Huesca, according to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
The Catalonian outfit appears to be closely managing Messi's playing time as he approaches his 34th birthday in June. He also sat out recent Champions League skirmishes at Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencvaros.
Messi has scored seven and assisted once in 14 La Liga appearances, and has added four goals and three assists in four Champions League outings.
He's free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from Jan. 1 as his Barcelona deal expires at the end of June. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly the likeliest destinations for the Barca and Argentina captain.
