Paris Saint-Germain’s relationship with Lionel Messi is about to finish after two underwhelming years following the French champions’ determination to droop the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner for occurring an unauthorised journey to Saudi Arabia.
Greeted as a hero by adoring supporters when he arrived in Paris from Barcelona in August 2021, Messi was alleged to be the person to ship PSG elusive Champions League success.
It has not labored out and a few of these followers had lately turned in opposition to a participant they see as a image of all of the membership have achieved unsuitable in specializing in celebrity signings whereas failing to construct a genuinely aggressive staff.
Having at one level appeared set to safe Messi’s signature for one other season, the Qatar-owned membership briefed a month in the past that the participant was now “more likely” to depart at the campaign’s end when his contract expires.
This week’s occasions are absolutely the ultimate straw.
Messi, who will be 36 in June, played in PSG’s insipid 3-1 home defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
He then travelled to Saudi Arabia to fulfil commitments as part of a contract with the country’s tourist office.
As a result Messi missed a training session pencilled in for Monday following the weekend defeat.
PSG acted swiftly to punish Messi, despite his status as one of the sport’s greats.
He has been suspended even though PSG still need points to retain the French title with five matches left this season.
A source with knowledge of the disciplinary procedure told AFP that Argentina’s World-Cup winning captain would be sidelined for “several days”.
Various media in France reported he could be suspended for two weeks.
“He can’t prepare, can’t play, and won’t be paid whereas disciplinary measures are in place,” the source added.
Hours later the Saudi tourist board issued a press release to celebrate Messi’s visit and detail his “jam-packed itinerary” which included feeding a herd of gazelles.
“Messi’s go to to Saudi was packed with thrilling actions, with one thing for everybody within the household,” it said.
Meanwhile his teammates were back on the training ground in Paris after suffering a sixth defeat in 17 Ligue 1 matches in 2023.
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That Messi should miss training to fly instead to Saudi Arabia could be seen as especially embarrassing for PSG’s owners given recent frictions between Qatar and its Gulf neighbour.
Saudi Arabia imposed a diplomatic blockade on Qatar in 2017 along with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, although a reconciliation accord was sealed in January 2021 and the countries have since renewed relations.
The front page of Wednesday’s edition of French sports daily L’Equipe carried images of Messi and PSG’s Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi. “The Break-up” learn the headline.
When Messi was unveiled by PSG, he mentioned profitable one other Champions League title was his “dream” and that he thought he was in “the ideal place” to do it.
Yet it seems that including an ageing Messi to an assault already containing Kylian Mbappe and Neymar shouldn’t be a recipe for European success.
With Messi, PSG have suffered consecutive exits from the Champions League within the final 16.
They did win Ligue 1 final season and are heading in the right direction to take action once more this 12 months, even when they limp in the direction of the end line.
Messi scored simply 11 objectives in a tough first season in Paris as he digested his departure from Barcelona.
He has contributed 20 in all competitions this season and can also be the main assist-provider in Ligue 1.
Messi has developed a good understanding with Mbappe however there have solely been glimpses of him at his absolute best.
PSG’s possibilities of profitable the Champions League won’t be diminished by dropping Messi, but it surely stays to be seen the place the participant himself goes subsequent.
Barcelona have made no secret of their need to convey him again, but the Catalans’ ongoing monetary points solid doubt on their means to make a deal occur.
There aren’t any different apparent choices obtainable to Messi in Europe, that means he could have to think about a transfer elsewhere.
MLS outfit Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, have lengthy been thought-about a doable vacation spot for Messi.
Another is Saudi Arabia, the place he might renew his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who lately moved to Riyadh facet Al Nassr.
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