Messi has not played since fracturing his arm against Sevilla on October 20.
But asked if Messi was ready to play 90 minutes, Valverde replied: “We will see, but he’s lost his fear of falling or struggling against an opponent.
“You have to get that out of your head, you cannot be thinking if you are about to make a bad movement.
“I have seen him training well and with confidence.”
If Messi starts it would mark a miraculous recovery from the 31-year-old, who suffered the injury just TWENTY THREE days before the Betis game.
Elsewhere, Ousmane Dembele has been dropped from the matchday squad amid reports that claim he missed training on Thursday.
The £98million winger said he was ill but failed to tell the club, who were trying to contact him in his absence.
Meanwhile, Demebele’s fellow Frenchman Samuel Umtiti is fit and goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is available again.
Defender Umtiti has been out with a knee injury since September.
But Valverde insists all three are fit and ready to play.
“Everyone who is selected is in good shape,” he said.
“The return of Umtiti and Messi isn’t a risk.
“It is true that we are looking after Marc, but he’s available for the game against Betis.”
Philippe Coutinho and Thomas Vermaelen will will not feature because of hamstring problems.