PSG to discipline Messi over unauthorised Saudi trip
PARIS: Lionel Messi faces being suspended by Paris Saint-Germain after travelling to Saudi Arabia earlier this week without the club's permission, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Tuesday. The source said that Argentina's World-Cup winning captain, who is out of contract at the end of the season, would be banned for "several days", while various media in France reported that he would be hit with a two-week suspension. "He cannot train, cannot play, and will not be paid while disciplinary measures are in place," the source added. Another club source indicated that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would "probably" be sidelined for a fortnight, noting that "nobody is more important than the club". Messi, who will turn 36 in June, played in PSG's 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, before the PSG squad were given a day off on Tuesday. The source with knowledge of the matter said that the Argentine would not take part in training on Wednesday either.
PSG are due to return to league action away at struggling Troyes on Sunday, a game that Messi may now miss.
If he were to be sidelined for two weeks he would also sit out a home match against Ajaccio on May 13.
The disciplinary measures make the prospect of Messi staying in the French capital after his two-year deal expires at the end of this season even more remote.
Having at one point looked set to extend his stay for another year, a source close to the club told AFP last month that he was now "much more likely" to depart at the campaign's end.
Messi arrived from Barcelona in 2021 but has struggled to reproduce his best form in Paris, scoring 31 goals in 71 appearances in all competitions.
He was recently jeered by a section of the PSG support, who see him as a symbol of all the club have done wrong in focusing on superstar signings while failing to build a genuinely competitive team.
Messi has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season and is the leading assist-provider in Ligue 1, with 15.
However, his form since leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar has declined along with that of the team.
PSG's insipid performance against Lorient brought a sixth defeat in 17 Ligue 1 matches in 2023.
They remain five points clear of Marseille at the top of the table with five games left, and are therefore still on course for a record 11th French title.
However, they were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Bayern Munich and also went out of the French Cup at the same stage to Marseille.
相关推荐
-
How 3D Game Rendering Works: Texturing
-
Leverkusen beat Roma to put one foot in Europa League final
-
Huawei Mate 40 Pro: Powerful new 5G chip, 90Hz display, still no Google services
-
Why doesn't Trump stop courting Kim Jong
-
[Graphic News] Average book price nears 20,000 won
-
Trump: 'very positive' correspondence recently with N. Korea
- 最近发表
-
- New Grok response directs users to Vote.gov for election questions
- Korea, Australia voice concerns over NK nukes, call for diplomatic efforts
- Hugh Grant defines a popular British insult with the help of Donald Trump Jr.
- Japanese delegation makes rare visit to North Korea
- 'Metaphor: ReFantazio' hands
- North Korea, US agree to resume nuke talks
- Paris Saint
- Trump: 'very positive' correspondence recently with N. Korea
- How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on reunion shows
- 'Dune: Part Two' demand crashes AMC's website and app
- 随机阅读
-
- Venture Missionaries
- Trump: 'very positive' correspondence recently with N. Korea
- North Korea reports five deaths, damage in typhoon
- US sanctions 3 shipping firms over illicit NK activity
- What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
- Korea, Australia voice concerns over NK nukes, call for diplomatic efforts
- What really happens if Republicans get rid of Section 230
- Jacked Jeff Bezos knows grass
- Google is bringing AI summaries to ‘Files’ so you can find your docs quicker
- Trump: 'very positive' correspondence recently with N. Korea
- Microsoft's 'talking camera' app for the blind isn't as magical as it sounds
- Twitter continues to label Trump's misinformation about vote count
- How to watch 'Kinds of Kindness': When is it streaming?
- The best pet vacuum deals at Amazon this week
- North Korea again raps Seoul over joint military exercise
- Intense video shows elephant stranded at sea being saved by rescuers
- Top 10 Tech Pranks
- How Tesla super fans get the add
- Vegan festival in Seoul this weekend
- [Reporter's Notebook] Humanitarian aid to North Korea should continue
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-