Global Courant 2023-05-05 21:51:34
Messi scored 31 goals and provided 34 assists in 71 appearances in all competitions for PSG, winning the Ligue 1 title last season
Lionel Messi has apologized to his Paris St-Germain teammates and says he will wait for the club to decide what to do with him after an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia.
It followed PSG’s home defeat to Lorient on Sunday – their third in six games – when Messi played 90 minutes.
“I’m sorry for what I did and I’m waiting to see what the club decides,” Messi said in a video posted to Instagram.
“I honestly thought we would have a day off after the game, as had happened in previous weeks.
“I had organized this trip to Saudi Arabia after canceling it before. This time I couldn’t cancel it.”
Messi is ready to leave PSG when his contract expires in the summer.
The 35-year-old, who has also been fined by the club, has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.
PSG manager Christophe Galtier says he had “nothing to do with” Messi’s suspension, while also condemning fan protests outside players’ homes.
“Leo’s suspension has contributed to poor performance, we cannot hide behind that,” said 56-year-old Galtier on Friday.
“The decision had nothing to do with me. I was informed of the decision. I can’t say it has been a pleasant period.”
PSG are five points ahead of Ligue 1 with five games to play, but are out of the Champions League and losing in the last 16 of the French Cup. There were protests from fans after their defeat to Lorient.
Fans also gathered outside the club’s Brazilian striker Neymar’s home on Wednesday, chanting for him to leave the club.
The 31-year-old attacker is out due to an ankle injury.
The supporters’ actions prompted the club to increase security at the homes of Messi, Neymar, Italian midfielder Marco Verratti and Galtier, as well as at the club’s training ground.
“As for the protests in front of a player’s house, we have to be careful. Private life must remain private,” said Galtier.
“I can understand the anger, the disappointment of our fans. You can protest at the training ground or at the PSG office or after a game at the Parc des Princes, but I can’t accept it at anyone’s house.
“A lot of these things are happening right now, and they can be uncontrollable and dangerous.”
