Barcelona striker Lionel Messi does not believe his place in the Barcelona starting line-up is under threat despite missing the club’s tours of Scotland and Asia. The superstar was given extended leave by Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard in order to recover after having represented his country at the Copa America Cup. In Messi’s absence players like Giovani Dos Santos and Bojan Krkic showcased their talents with some impressive performances.

When asked if he had been thinking about being pushed to the bench, he told the club’s official website, www.fcbarcelona.com: “I am relaxed in that sense.

“It is the boss who will decide who plays. We need to think about the group, about the team, and it doesn’t matter who plays or gets left out.

“I have known them (Giovani and Krkic) both for a long time and have seen what they can do.”