Paris Saint-Germain are considering handing Lionel Messi a fine for missing training on Monday to travel to Saudi Arabia, sources have told ESPN.
The Argentine’s contract at Parc des Princes is up at the end of the season and he has been targeted by clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
He indeed is wanted by Saudi Arabian sides, his former club Barcelona are looking at ways to re-sign Messi, while PSG have accepted that he will leave this summer.
L’Equipe report that fuel has been added to that Saudi Arabian fire as Messi skipped a training session to visit Riyadh.
PSG’s first team would have been granted two days off – Monday and Tuesday this week – in the event that they beat Lorient on Sunday, but they instead fell to an embarrassing 3-1 loss at home, with their day off on Monday revoked.
But as part of a contract with the Saudi Arabian tourist office, Messi was due in the country at the beginning of this week having already had to twice cancel earlier in the season.
Messi had asked head coach Christophe Galtier and sporting advisor Luis Campos to amend the training schedule to allow this visit to the Middle East, but they were not able to come to an agreement.
The rest of the PSG first team are said to have been shocked by Messi’s actions.
L’Equipe approached PSG for comment but did not confirm or deny that Messi did not have permission to make the visit.
Lionel Messi’s PSG future
PSG are now considering handing the 2022 World Cup winner a fine for his unauthorised absence, sources added, although the situation is complicated by his ongoing negotiations over a contract extension.
Messi’s deal at the Parc des Princes is due to expire at the end of the season.
Barcelona are looking into the possibility of re-signing the 35-year-old, although LaLiga president Javier Tebas warned that the league won’t change its financial fair play rules to allow him to return. He is also subject to interest from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal and Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
