With Argentina making their final preparations for the opening game against the Ivory Coast in the Olympics, the wrangle of Messi shows no sign of abating.
Barcelona at first refused to allow the forward to play as one of the few over 23 players allowed in the Olympic squad, but on FIFA's advice let the player travel to China.
Messi trains ahead of Olympic opener vs Ivory Coast
The 'flea' is currently in Beijing and training with the squad but the sports tribunal at the centre of the fight have now said Barcelona has 'no obligation to free the player.'
The reason is that the Olympics doesn't figure in FIFA's calendar and therefore has no right to demand the player be freed. AFA president Julio Grondona told the press "Messi will stay and play in Beijing" and the national Olympic coach added "tomorrow he will be playing against the Ivory Coast."
With less than 24 hours until their opening game it looks unlikely that Messi will be returning, and Argie Bargy, for one, thinks that he should be there.
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