Messi: 'I will go to Beijing'

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is set to fly out to Beijing to join up with the Argentina squad ahead of the Olympics after FIFA confirmed clubs are obliged to release players aged 23 and under.

A statement issued by world football’s governing body on Wednesday revealed the judge of the Players’ Status Committee, Slim Aloulou, agreed with FIFA’s previous ruling that it was “mandatory” for players to be released for Olympic duty.