Lionel Messi has posted a video on Instagram explaining his side of the story after PSG suspended him for missing training earlier this week when he travelled to Saudi Arabic
Lionel Messi has issued an apology to his PSG team-mates after the Ligue 1 club suspended him for missing training.
Messi travelled to Saudi Arabia earlier this week following the 3-1 home defeat to Lorient on Sunday (April 30). The squad are usually given time off after a match, but the loss meant they were expected to return sooner – which Messi did not adhere too.
He was subsequently handed a two-week suspension, according to reports. Breaking his silence in a video posted to his Instagram story, Messi said: “I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always happened. I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it.
“I had already cancelled it before. I apologise to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me.”
Messi wore a suit to deliver his solemn message in Spanish, which lasted 37 seconds. He started the shock loss last weekend which left PSG just five points ahead of Marseille with five games to go.
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Defender Achraf Hakimi was sent off in the first half after Enzo Le Fee had given the visitors the lead. Kylian Mbappe equalised soon after.
But the man advantage paid dividends, with Lorient’s Darlin Yongwa scoring again before the break, and Bamba Dieng putting the cherry on top of the cake with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Messi jetted off to the Middle East with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children Thiago, Mateo and Ciro in the hours after full-time, which was not authorised by PSG chiefs.
He’s set to miss their trip to relegation-threatened Troyes this weekend, as well as the home match against strugglers AC Ajaccio the following Saturday.
His contract in the French capital expires this summer and it’s expected he’ll depart for pastures new. Saudi is one possible destination with Al-Hilal, the rivals of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, interested in handing him an eye-watering contract.
The news was not welcomed by PSG’s fans, with their ultras protesting in the streets this week. They visited the club’s HQ, and Neymar’s house, demanding his and Messi’s exits.
