PARIS: Lionel Messi apologised to Paris St Germain and his teammates on Friday after being suspended for making an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week and missing a training session as a result.

French media reported that Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain was suspended for two weeks after he travelled to Saudi Arabia without PSG’s permission to fulfil commitments as part of a contract with the country’s tourist office when he was supposed to train with the squad the day after the Ligue 1 leaders’ 3-1 defeat at home to Lorient on Sunday.

“I sincerely believed that I would have the day off after the game as had been happening in previous weeks. I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it, I had already cancelled it before,” Messi said in a video posted on Instagram to his 458 million followers.

“I apologise to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me,” added the Argentina forward.

The affair has made it increasingly unlikely that Messi will remain at PSG beyond this season, when his two-year contract with the club expires.

A source with knowledge of the disciplinary procedure told AFP that Messi would be sidelined for “several days”, and he is therefore set to play no part in PSG’s match against Troyes this weekend in Ligue 1.

Various media in France said he would be suspended for two weeks, although AFP has not been able to confirm those reports.

PSG boss Christophe Galtier said earlier on Friday that he had nothing to do with the club’s decision to suspend Messi as they look to keep their Ligue 1 lead intact.

“We’ll see when Leo returns, we’ll see what happens. Obviously, there will be discussions with the entire club, but also with Leo,” Galtier had said at a press conference when asked if Messi would play for the team again.

Galtier also said that the decision to suspend the 35-year-old Messi was not his to take in the first place. “It wasn’t my decision to take. I was informed of the decision and I defer to it,” he insisted.

PSG, who are five points clear of Olympique de Marseille at the top of Ligue 1, will have just four more matches remaining this season following their game against Troyes.

Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season, a source close to Argentina’s captain told Reuters, with a contract renewal at PSG not on the cards for the World Cup winner who turns 36 next month.

The oil-rich nation appointed Messi its tourism ambassador last year and he visited Jeddah in May 2022.

He returned in January to play a friendly match with PSG against a team of Saudi League stars, when he faced great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al Hilal coach Ramon Diaz, however, refused to be drawn on claims the Saudi club are attempting to sign Messi as they are focused on their clash with Urawa Red Diamonds in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2023