PSG were potentially planning on dismissing Lionel Messi (35) over his unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia but eventually backed down, according to a report tonight from RMC Sport. The day after a home league defeat against Lorient, the Argentine flew to the Gulf state to comply with his contractual obligations as the country’s tourism ambassador for tourism. However, his PSG teammates were training and PSG head coach Christophe Galtier did not sanction his playmaker’s trip. The club’s response was swift: a two-week suspension, meaning Messi was unable to play for PSG, nor use the club’s training facilities with his pay docked for that period as well.
According to the outlet, PSG went even further than that. They suspended Messi and sent him a summons letter for an pre-dismissal interview. The 7-time Ballon d’Or winner’s entourage then quickly looked to overturn Messi’s potential sacking. PSG were reportedly blaming Messi for his no-show at training, but also for “various shortcomings.” According to RMC, had Messi taken the issue to court, PSG were likely to see the sacking cancelled over those reasons alone.
Eventually, RMC add, Messi’s and PSG’s legal advisors drafted a secret contract. The latter stands that Les Parisiens would welcome the Argentine back in training should he offer an apology. On Friday May 5, the former Barcelona man took to Instagram to apologise, explaining that he believed the squad would have the day off after the defeat to Lorient. Four days later, Messi trained individually at the Camp des Loges before resuming full training with his teammates the day after. It remains to be seen whether Galtier will field Messi against Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes on Saturday for Ligue 1 matchday 35. The outlet adds that PSG have denied their report.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
