Lionel Messi has been suspended for two weeks without pay through Paris Saint-Germain after making a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s consent, ESPN reports. Athletic adds that the star striker will be fined.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Messi missed education on Monday because he was in Riyadh, the country’s capital. This was part of his sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian Tourism Board, which he signed before joining the Ligue 1 club in 2021.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier told his team they would train on Monday and Tuesday if they won Sunday’s game against Lorient, they lost 3-1. The club went 2-3 in April.
Over the weekend, Messi posted rows of trees in Saudi Arabia on Instagram.
“Who came up with Saudi Arabia being so green?I like to explore its unforeseen wonders whenever I can,” he wrote with the promotional hashtag #visitsaudi.
WARNING: No asterisk in Lionel Messi’s career. His brilliant resume is now the World Cup title.
After winning his first World Cup with Argentina last summer, Messi is in the final year of his contract with the French team. Negotiations for his extension are ongoing and he reportedly won donations to sign for Saudi club Al Hilal (Cristiano Ronaldo’s rival club). Al Nassr) and Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, owned by David Beckham.