Lionel Messi Removed From TC The U-17 Indonesian National Team Because Quality Is Not Suitable

Selection of the U-17 Indonesian national team at Senayan Field, Jakarta (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The U-17 Indonesian national team coach, Nova Arianto, crossed out two names, namely Lionel Messi Al Fachri and a descendant, Matthew Davies, in a training camp (TC) session on Thursday, August 8, 2024. After leading the training at Senayan Field, Jakarta, Nova bluntly revealed the reason.

Previously, Nova Arianto had summoned 32 names of players to undergo the TC which had been going on since August 5, 2024.

All of these players are new faces who did not strengthen the U-16 Indonesian national team at the 2024 AFF U-16 Cup in Solo, July 2024.

The call for new names is to increase the strength of the U-17 Indonesian national team ahead of appearing in the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification in October 2024.

Lionel Messi Al Fachri became one of the names involved in the initial TC. However, during the exercise which took place on Thursday, August 8, 2024, he did not appear on the field.

Regarding that, Nova Arianto as the head coach admitted that he had crossed out the player from the squad.

"Yes, he is not here. I have returned Lionel Messi (to the club)," said Nova Arianto after leading the training at Senayan Field, Jakarta.

Regarding Messi's deletion, Nova Arianto honestly said that the player's quality did not match his expectations. Lionel Messi's postor is also another consideration.

"Sebagai posture dan kualitas belum sesuai dengan yang saya ingin," kata asisten pelatih Shin Tae-yong ini.

Apart from Lionel Messi, Nova Arianto also crossed out Matthew Davies, who is a player of Indonesian-Australian descent. The player occupies the defender position and plays for the Australian club, Subiaco.

"For Matthew Davies, we have sent home too," said Nova Arianto again.

Regardless of the deletion of the two names, the TC process and the selection of the U-17 Indonesian national team will still be held until this weekend.

Later, the player chosen by Nova Arianto will join the other U-17 Indonesian national team players in Bali.

"Currently there are 30 players who are still undergoing the selection with us. We will choose several players who will later join other teams for TC in Bali on August 12, 2024," said Nova Arianto.

While in Bali, the Indonesian U-17 national team players will continue the TC agenda in preparation to participate in the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification which will be held on 19-27 October 2024.

On the agenda of the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification, the U-17 Indonesian national team is in Group G with the hosts Kuwait, Australia, and the North Mariana Islands.