If the rules were strictly followed, players like Neymar Jr. and Lionel Messi would not be playing on Saturday with Barcelona the final of the UEFA Champions League. Special arrangements had to be made for them and some other players from both teams to play in the biggest game there is at the club level.
FIFA indicates that 14 days before the beginning of a tournament that takes place, players must report to their national teams. The 2015 edition of the Copa America kicks off on June 11, and the UCL final is just one week before that. The governing body of football mandated that players must have been made available by May 29.
Juventus and Barcelona were able to work things out with the clubs in order to keep their stars one week after the date set by FIFA. Winners and losers participating in the Copa America won't have much time to recover. Juventus has less international players, so the number of players they will send to South America is lower.
The biggest fear for clubs is to have one of their players injured during the Copa due to a lack of rest, or just any injury at all after a very long season playing at the highest level. National teams also fear the possibility that the players get injured in the game that will take place in Berlin.
Juventus situation
The Serie A champions don't have to worry about Martin Caceres getting injured in Chile, as he is already injured and won't be making the trip to play with Uruguay. Midfielder Arturo Vidal was named to play with his team as they host the tournament. Roberto Maximiliano Pereyra will also make the trip from Berlin to Santiago after the final is over. Finally, Carlos Tevez will be back with La Albiceleste as soon as he is done playing for Juventus, in what could be his last game with the Italian side.
Vidal and Tevez will not look at each other in the eye in Chile
Barcelona
Everyone knows Lionel Messi will not only be the biggest star for Argentina, but of the whole tournament. Before that happens, La Pulga is expected to continue showing his spectacular form with Barcelona when it matters most, at the UEFA Champions League final, with the chance of earning a second treble. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will also not be reporting with his team until the game is over. He might not even play if Ter Stegen gets the call to start in Berlin. Javier Mascherano should be traveling with Messi to report with Gerardo Martino as soon as possible. Neymar, is the other Barca player expected to be in Chile right after the Champions League is over.
Messi and Neymar will become enemies the day after the UCL game
