Lionel Messi will only fulfil a watching brief at Inter Milan in midweek after Barcelona chose not to select their recovering superstar in the playing squad.

Hopes had been raised about an imminent return when Barca announced on Sunday that the 31-year-old would head to Italy, but this was without “the medical all-clear” in regards to his fractured arm. Of the 21 players then announced as available in the early hours of Monday morning, the record goal scorer did not feature.

Messi picked up the injury during a match against Sevilla at Camp Nou on October 20 and has missed four games, including the 5-1 thrashing of El Clasico rivals Real Madrid.

He only returned to training on Wednesday and did not feature in Saturday’s 3-2 La Liga victory at Rayo Vallecano.

Barca currently top Group B ahead of Wednesday’s clash at San Siro.