Argentine forward and Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi scored twice in Barcelona’s pre-season game against Girona on Wednesday.

The Catalunya side won 3-1 with Messi scoring twice in the game, which is his first since his request to leave the side this summer.

The 33-year-old only returned to training last week after his attempt to force a move away from failed.

Phillipe Coutinho opened the scoring for Barcelona, and Messi had a hand in it before he scored two long-range goals with the second taking a deflection before hitting the back of the net.

He was substituted after an hour into the game as Barcelona prepare for their first league match against Villarreal in La Liga.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is close to joining Tottenham this summer, seven years after leaving the London Club Side to join Real Madrid in a record deal in 2013.

Bale has been on the sidelines since last season at the capital club as he failed to feature and make appearances as Real Madrid went on to win the La Liga last season.

Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett disclosed on Wednesday that the move for the Welsh forward by Spurs is in progress, albeit slowly.

“Gareth is closer to leaving Madrid than at any time in the last seven years. We are still negotiating. We shall see how it goes. There’s a long way to go on some issues, but without doubt, Gareth is closer to leaving Madrid than at any time in the last seven years.”Jonathan Barnett was quoted saying.

Gareth Bale won four UEFA Champions League titles at the club as well as two Spanish La Liga titles since his then world record transfer in 2013.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu