Paris Saint-Germain suspended the footballer after he missed a training session.
Lionel Messi has apologized to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and his teammates for going to Saudi Arabia for an unauthorized trip that resulted in his suspension.
Messi posted a short video to Instagram on Friday asking for forgiveness, attributing the controversy to a scheduling misunderstanding.
He missed training on Monday while on a promotion trip to Saudi Arabia, and a day later the French club announced that it had suspended the World Cup winner.
Messi said he thought the team had Monday off.
“Hi, I wanted to make this video about what is happening. First of all ask forgiveness from my teammates and the club. Honestly, I thought we were going to have an off day, just like in the weeks before.
“I had this trip to [Saudi] Arabia organized, which I canceled before, and this time I couldn’t cancel. Again, ask forgiveness for what I have done and I will wait for whatever the club decides. Cuddly toys.”
Earlier on Friday, coach Christophe Galtier said the club and Messi will wait until the end of his suspension to discuss how he will finish the season.
Messi is not expected to extend his contract and there are only five games left.
Galtier was asked at a press conference if he can count on Messi returning to the field after the suspension.
“We’ll see what happens when Leo comes back,” Galtier said. “Obviously there will be talks with the whole club, but also with Leo, who is the first person involved.”
The club has not confirmed the length of the Argentine great’s suspension, but French media reported it would be two weeks, meaning he would miss two matches. PSG has a five-point lead over number two Marseille in Ligue 1.
Galtier said the club had told him Messi was suspended, and declined to say whether he endorsed the decision.
“I didn’t have to make the decision,” said the coach. “I was notified of the decision.”
Messi joined PSG in 2021 after winning every major honor with Barcelona. The Catalan club that called Messi home from the age of 13 could not afford to keep him due to huge debts and the financial regulations of the Spanish league.
The French club and its fans hoped Messi’s arrival would result in an elusive Champions League title. Instead, the Qatari-backed club was knocked out in the round of 16 in successive seasons.
Messi was welcomed in Paris with a police escort. His exit will certainly be less glorious. Reports have linked Messi with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, a return to Barcelona and a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.