PARIS: Lionel Messi faces being suspended by means of Paris Saint-Germain after travelling to Saudi Arabia previous this week with out the membership’s permission, a supply with wisdom of the subject advised AFP on Tuesday. The supply stated that Argentina’s Global-Cup successful captain, who’s out of contract on the finish of the season, could be banned for “a number of days”, whilst quite a lot of media in France reported that he could be hit with a two-week suspension.

“He can not teach, can not play, and is probably not paid whilst disciplinary measures are in position,” the supply added. Every other membership supply indicated that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would “most likely” be sidelined for a fortnight, noting that “no one is extra essential than the membership”.

Messi, who will flip 36 in June, performed in PSG’s 3-1 house defeat by means of Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday. He then travelled to Saudi Arabia to satisfy commitments as a part of a freelance with the rustic’s vacationer place of work. In consequence Messi neglected a coaching consultation penciled in for Monday following the weekend defeat, earlier than the PSG squad got a time off on Tuesday. The supply with wisdom of the subject stated that the Argentine would now not participate in coaching on Wednesday both.

PSG are because of go back to league motion away at suffering Troyes on Sunday, a recreation that Messi would possibly now leave out. If he had been to be sidelined for 2 weeks he would additionally take a seat out a house fit towards Ajaccio on Would possibly 13. The disciplinary measures make the possibility of Messi staying within the French capital after his two-year deal expires on the finish of this season much more far flung. Having at one level regarded set to increase his keep for some other yr, a supply with reference to the membership advised AFP final month that he used to be now “a lot more most probably” to go away on the marketing campaign’s finish.

Messi arrived from Barcelona in 2021 however has struggled to breed his absolute best shape in Paris, scoring 31 objectives in 71 appearances in all competitions. He used to be not too long ago jeered by means of a bit of the PSG enhance, who see him as a logo of the entire membership have carried out incorrect in specializing in celebrity signings whilst failing to construct a in truth aggressive staff. Messi has scored 20 objectives in all competitions this season and is the main assist-provider in Ligue 1, with 15.

Then again, his shape since main Argentina to Global Cup glory in Qatar has declined in conjunction with that of the staff. PSG’s insipid efficiency towards Lorient introduced a 6th defeat in 17 Ligue 1 fits in 2023. They continue to be 5 issues transparent of Marseille on the most sensible of the desk with 5 video games left, and are subsequently nonetheless on track for a file eleventh French name. Then again, they had been knocked out of the Champions League within the final 16 by means of Bayern Munich and likewise went out of the French Cup on the identical degree to Marseille. — AFP