Lionel Messi Apologizes for Saudi Trip as Future at PSG Remains Uncertain

It is questionable whether Lionel Messi will wear the Paris Saint-Germain jersey again. The French luxury club suspended the world champions earlier this week after he apparently made a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he works as a tourism ambassador, without the club’s permission. So far, the Argentine hadn’t reacted, but that changed on Friday.

The superstar took to Instagram with an apology video. “I thought we were after the last game [1:3 gegen den FC Lorient, Anm. d. Red.] have a day off as usual. I had organized this trip and couldn’t cancel it. I canceled it before,” Messi explains in the video. “I apologize to my teammates and now I’m waiting to see what the club wants to do with me.”

PSG has suspended the attacker for two weeks, the associated fine is reportedly well into the seven-digit range due to Messi’s princely salary. Through the episode, the club is said to have finally decided that the time together will end after two years in the summer. Previously, a contract extension was not necessarily considered probable, but still possible. The exciting question now is whether FC Barcelona can create the necessary freedom in the budget to bring the ‘prodigal son’ home. Otherwise, in the absence of other options, Messi could agree to an insane offer from Saudi Arabia, where the world footballer could replace his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s highest-paid footballer.