Messi APOLOGISES to PSG after unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 5 May 2023 19:09 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi has delivered a public apology to Paris Saint-Germain after going on an unsanctioned holiday to Saudi Arabia.

The Argentine was due at training on Monday after PSG's 3-1 loss to Lorient on last Sunday, but instead posted pictures of his family trip to social media.

Messi was subsequently suspended by his club for two weeks, meaning he would only be available for the final three games of the Ligue 1 season.

READ: Barcelona plan BRUTAL cuts to help land Messi

What did Messi say?

"I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always," Messi said on his Instagram story. " I had this trip organised and I couldn't cancel it. I'd already cancelled it before.

"I apologise to my teammates and I'm waiting for what the club wants to do with me."

Messi was suited for the message, which was delivered in Spanish and lasted 37 seconds.

READ: Lionel Messi makes TWO Barcelona demands

It has been widely speculated that Messi has already played his last game for PSG, with the player yet to extend a contract which expires in June with his former employers Barcelona making no secret of the fact that they want to see him return.

A trip to Saudi Arabia is suspect in its own right from PSG's point of view, with reports suggesting that Al-Hilal are ready to make Messi the best-paid player of all time on €400m a year should he choose them over Barcelona.

Messi has impressed on the pitch for PSG this season, with 15 goals and as many assists in Ligue 1, and his understanding and friendship with Kylian Mbappe had given some sections to the support hope that he would stay.

The pair have been shining in Neymar's absence, and a section of the PSG support surrounded the Brazilian's Paris residence this week, demanding that he follows Messi out of the club.