Football superstar Messi risks suspension for taking trip to Saudi Arabia without PSG permission: news reports
Football superstar Lionel Messi faces disciplinary action – possibly suspension – from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for making a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission, French and international media have reported.
The reports of a possible two-week suspension mean Messi could miss PSG’s next two games and comes at a delicate time as the French club hopes to extend the Argentine star’s contract beyond this season, the Associated Press news agency reported. Wednesday.
French media L’Equipe and RMC Sport reported the suspension on Tuesday without citing sources.
A source with knowledge of the matter told the AP the French club rejected Messi’s request to make the trip to Saudi Arabia, where the 35-year-old has a commercial contract to promote tourism.
The World Cup champion will not be allowed to train or play with the team and will not be paid during his suspension, the source told the AP.
Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title in December. He has also scored 15 league goals and leads the French league with 15 assists.
Messi has not publicly commented on the reported suspension on his social media accounts.
The reported suspension comes at a delicate time as the French club had hoped to extend the Argentine star’s contract beyond this season.
Reports of Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia followed PSG’s surprise 3-1 defeat to Lorient on Sunday, giving the defending champions a five-point lead over Marseille with five games remaining in the season. Messi played the entire match.
A source at the club said the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would “probably” be sidelined for two weeks, noting that “no one is more important than the club,” the Agence France-Presse news agency reported.
Messi, who turns 36 in June, played a part in PSG’s 3-1 home defeat to Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday, AFP reported. He then traveled to Saudi Arabia to fulfill obligations under a contract with the country’s tourism board.
As a result, Messi missed a training session scheduled for Monday after the weekend defeat before the PSG squad was given a day off on Tuesday.
The source with knowledge of the matter says that the Argentinian will not participate in training on Wednesday.
L’Equipe had reported that PSG coach Christophe Galtier promised to give his players two days off – Monday and Tuesday – if they beat Lorient. Instead, the team trained on Monday and had Tuesday off.
Messi joined PSG from Barcelona two years ago in hopes of leading the team to an elusive Champions League title. Instead, PSG were eliminated in the round of 16 in successive seasons.
There has been speculation about where he would play next, especially after reports that contract talks with PSG had fallen through.
Some PSG fans have even booed Messi amid the team’s inconsistent campaign.