Dr Donato Villani: 'Lionel Messi will recover from injury earlier than stated'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 28 September 2015

Argentina team doctor Donato Villani believes that Lionel Messi will return to action earlier than Barcelona's predicted eight-week layoff with a knee injury.

Argentina team doctor Donato Villani has claimed that Barcelona star Lionel Messi will return to action earlier than predicted.

The Catalan giants stated at the weekend that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner could spend eight weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The 28-year-old damaged the internal collateral ligament of his left knee during Barca's 2-1 victory over Las Palmas in La Liga on Saturday.

Despite the Spanish club claiming that a two-month layoff is likely for Barcelona, Dr Villani is optimistic that Messi will return to playing sooner rather than later.

"For years I've known Leo and I have no doubt that he will be ready in the shortest possible time of the injury, perhaps before that period of six to eight weeks," Villani told Ole.

"He gets mad when he cannot play, when he's not with the ball. Because of that I know that he's going to recover quickly and in the best way because he's very professional. The desire to play again and the will to heal can influence."

Barcelona are currently second in the league table after six games, one point adrift of leaders Villarreal.