Messi all smiles as he picks up Thiago from school, with Clasico the target
On Tuesday, for the first time since his injury, Lionel Messi accompanied his partner, Antonella, to pick up their son Thiago from school. He did so still with his crutches and a fixing on his left leg to maintain immobility in his injured knee -- more as precuation than anything, on Monday he was able to begin the next stage of his recovery.
In any case, he looked happy, walking alongside his family with a face full of stubble, clearly reflecting the positive sensations as his rehabiliation goes to plan. The priority is to be available on November 21 for the Clasico against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, which will be exactly eight weeks after he limped off injured against Las Palmas.
In principle, he was supposed to completely ditch the crutches on Monday, but the doctors changed their minds and advised care, delaying the decision for the Argentine's sake. Everything now suggests that it will be Friday when Messi can begin to start walking on his own, away from training, without any sort of support.
Nothing hindered his return to training on Monday and the second step of his recovery, though. He worked with the physiotherapist Roger Girones as the club's training ground. In a couple of weeks he will be able to step up his comeback bid and take part in continuous running sessions. Everything is going to plan.
