Sampaoli’s Argentina to train at Messi’s turf

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has planned to take his Argentina side to Lionel Messi’s Barcelona for a 10 day training camp as part of preparations for the Russia World Cup.

Argentina will first play a match at Estadio La Bombonera, home to Boca Juniors, before they set off to train at FC Barcelona’s Ciudad Deportiva del Barcelona. The farewell game at Argentina’s Boca stadium is likely to be played on May 26th or 27th after the European leagues have ended.

The coaches idea is to forge a bond between the players before the biggest event in world football and wants to unite the Argentina players at the end of March, when they are set to face unconfirmed opponents. The teams are most likely to be Belgium, Morocco or Saudi Arabia.

Argentina’s European tour will begin at Barcelona where they will use the clubs training pitches and play a friendly match against a side not competing at the World Cup.

Training at Barcelona is going to be special for many Argentines who are going to find out about the place where Messi trained from an early stage.

Messi himself will be able to show them around the club and the training grounds and perhaps Sampaoli believes that the experience will be uplifting for his side.

Messi and his teammates will then travel to their Bronnitsy Training Centre in Russia, a week ahead of the World Cup.