Messing about with Messi

By European Football
August 27 2005

Argentine youngster Lionel Messi has been left out of the Barcelona line up for the game against Alaves, because of some confusion over his status as a so-called "assimilated" player. The youngster who recently broke into the Argentine national side was understood to be classed as a European Union player because he has come up through Barcelona's youth ranks.

But new regulations awaiting to be ratified by the Spanish Sports Council allowing for assimilated players are not yet in force.

Under Spanish Football Federation rules each Primera Liga club is permitted to have a maximum of three non-European Union players on their books.

Barcelona's three berths are already occupied by Brazil forward Ronaldinho, Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o and Mexican defender Rafael Marquez.

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