(ECNS) -- Argentine football star Lionel Messi explained his absence during a match two weeks ago in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, on Monday.
Messi denied in a video that his absence was due to political reasons and reiterated thatit is because of an inflamed adductor that had worsened the day before the game in Hong Kong.
"Since the start of my career, I’ve had a very close and special relationship with China. I’ve done a lot of things in China,” Messi said in the video. He added that he would like to come to China again.
He ended the video by saying he wanted to send good wishes to the people of China and to see them again.
It's the third time that the footballer explained his absence, following his responses on Feb. 6 and 7 respectively.
Messi was expected to play a friendly match with players from the Hong Kong Premier League on Feb. 4 but he sat on the bench throughout the entire match due to a claimed muscle problem.
South Africa marks 30 years since apartheid ended
'Catherine is thrilled by the kind wishes and support': Camilla thanks well
'Catherine is thrilled by the kind wishes and support': Camilla thanks well
LIZ JONES: Kate's strength has made me ashamed. And there's one self
Former head of Chinese Football Association sentenced to life
British POW who was tortured with electric shocks, beaten and starved by Putin's troops in five
How Katharine, Duchess of Kent bagged a royal prince
Archbishop of Canterbury says Kate Middleton conspiracy theories are nothing more than 'old
TikTok crackdown bill unanimously approved by US House panel
Mexico's presidential candidates discuss social spending, climate change in 2nd debate
Snap! How toned Pippa Middleton matches her bikinis with her designer wardrobe