World champion and Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission this week. Meaning Messi will not train or play for PSG during the period of his suspension.
Subscribe to Switch TV for more exciting content
However, the trip followed the French club’s home defeat by Lorient on Sunday, in which Messi played the full 90 minutes.
Read Also: Arsenal top, Odegaard “We used anger” against Chelsea
Messi has scored 31 goals and contributed 34 assists in 71 games in all competitions for PSG, and won the Ligue 1 title last season.
It is understood the 35-year-old asked permission to make the journey to carry out commercial work but was refused.
Messi, who has also been fined by the club, has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.
The World Cup winner is under contract for two-year with PSG which expires this summer.
He is set to miss matches against Troyes and Ajaccio as PSG, five points clear with five games to go, look to clinch a ninth league title in 11 seasons.
Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste claimed in March that the Spanish club were in contact with Messi about a return to the Nou Camp.
Read Also: EPL: City top, Haaland 50 goals, Man Utd and a seven-goal thriller at Anfield
However, manager Xavi told reporters last week it was “too soon” to speculate whether he would return to the club.
“When it comes to Leo, we don’t know if it will happen or not,” he said. “We don’t know. It’s too soon to talk about it.
“Winning the title is very important to us, for the club, the staff and the players it would give us a lot of stability. As for new players arriving, we will talk about it once we’ve won La Liga.”
Read Also: Harry Kane and Chairman Levy Clenched an ‘honest conversation’
Meanwhile, it will not be easy with Barca to bring Messi back having been charged by LaLiga for breaching their limit with three players during the 2021-22 season, including ex-Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and were forced to re-register Gavi as an academy player.
Subscribe to Switch TV for more exciting content
Nevertheless, it is reported that the club are working very much with that intention in mind to bring him back and they have been buoyed by the recent lack of progress in Messi’s contract talks with Paris Saint-Germain.
