Messi's father denies that growth treatment causes son's injuries

"It hurts me, all that stuff people said about the treatment having something to do with Lionel's new injury. They say anything, even some professionals talked irresponsibly," Jorge Messi told the Argentine station Radio Del Plata.

 Messi, 20, is currently recovering from a muscular injury in his left thigh, and was expected to arrive in Argentina late Thursday to pursue more treatment in his native city, Rosario.

 The striker's father stressed that the latest injury is "just a misfortune."

   "I would have liked people to be thorough and consult an endocrinologist. Then someone would have said the growth treatment has nothing to do with the current injuries," he said.

 Messi arrived at Barcelona at age 12. Given his scarce physical development, particularly regarding his height, he underwent a special treatment. He grew up to be 1.69 metres tall.

 The player's father said the latest injury got Messi "down very much," but noted that he takes it as "just another one in a stretch" of physical misfortunes.

 "Now we will have to be forward-looking and work on that. Probably, as some Barcelona doctors have said, the issue has to do with Lionel's muscle fibre type," the striker's father said.