Lionel Messi’s punishment for his Saudi escapade ended with the Paris Saint-Germain star’s return to training on Monday, the Paris club have announced. “Leo Messi back in training this Monday morning,” the club tweeted, along with a photo of the Argentine in action. His banishment finally lasted six days. He had been suspended by PSG on Tuesday after an unauthorized promotional trip to Saudi Arabia, for which the “Pulga” apologized in a short video posted on Instagram.
“I apologize to my teammates and await the club’s decision. I apologize to my partners and the club,” he said in Spanish. Messi missed victory at Troyes (3-1) on Sunday and could therefore return for the match of the 35th day of the championship against Ajaccio on Saturday (9 p.m.) at the Parc des Princes. He is on the verge of a second title of champion of France, Paris counting six points ahead of Lens (2nd) four days before the end of the season.
Asked after Troyes-PSG, coach Christophe Galtier had not commented on the Messi affair. “I give you the same answer as before the game: it’s an internal matter, I have no comment to make on Leo,” he said. At the end of the contract with Paris, Messi (35) is closer to a departure than an extension, according to concordant sources.
