Lionel Messi and Argentina team leave UK following Italy victory as they catch flight out of Manchester as they head for friendly against Spain

                               

The 30-year-old gave the club’s Under-7 and Under-8 teams an experience to remember as he met the squads and delivered high fives during a break in training.

Argentina were in the country ahead of a friendly against Italy on Friday night at the Etihad Stadium.As it was Messi, wasn’t needed as he watched from the stands with some of his team-mates as Ever Banega and West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini grabbed the goals in a 2-0 win.Perhaps Messi was given a rest having already outdone himself in training with his South American compatriots.

A video released by the Argentina FA on Youtube showed the little magician scoring an incredible effort in training.Picking up the ball just inside the opposition’s half during an 11-a-side training clash, he ran at the defence before cutting along the edge of the box and placing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
While he wasn’t given the chance to replicate that under the lights at the Etihad, he may have the chance to do so on Tuesday when Jorge Sampaoli’s side take on Spain.Messi will be up against a host of familiar faces if he takes to the pitch at Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, with the likes of Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique set to line up for the opposition.The match will be live on Sky Sports Main Event and kicks off at 8.30pm.