Football star Lionel Messi (L) and Pharma Company's CEO Tamer Wagih (R) (Photo Courtesy of Tour N Cure page on Facebook)
Five-time Ballon D'or winner and Barcelona star Lionel Messi's visit to Egypt has been postponed for the second time due to his commitments with his team given Barca's latest results, visit organisers Prime Pharma announced on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Barcelona experienced a blow-out 4-0 away loss against Paris Saint Germain at the Parc des Princes Stadium, hurting the team's chance of proceeding in the European Champions League.
In the second leg of the last 16 clash, scheduled for 8 March at the Nou Camp, Barcelona will need to net five goals, without conceding any, to reach the quarter final by at least a 5-4 aggregate win.
Messi's visit, which was scheduled to begin today, was postponed after Tuesday's match.
"The new date for the visit will be announced in a press release today," Prime Pharma said, citing the Argentine player's "commitment to his club and its administration in the wake of the latest results."
The organisers called on all media to be understanding of the football prodigy's commitments to the club and worldwide fans, stressing that Messi was still a main partner in Egypt's Tour n’ Cure medical tourism campaign, which runs combined tourism and Hepatitis C. treatment travel packages in Egypt.
This is not the first time that Messi's visit to Egypt to promote Tour n' Cure has been postponed.
In December, Messi agreed to postpone his visit due to the deadly Cairo bombing of St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, which left 29 people dead.
Juventus and Brazil defender Daniel Alves has also joined the Tour n’ Cure campaign to fight Hepatitis C. and boost tourism in Egypt.
Egypt has gained global recognition for fighting the disease, with the World Health Organisation celebrating World Hepatitis C. Day in Cairo in 2015.
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