Following an unauthorised personal promotional trip to Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi has been given a two-week suspension by Paris Saint-Germain; the six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s two-year contract with PSG expires in the summer.
Messi is believed to have begged PSG for permission to visit the nation, which he did on Sunday night after twice cancelling a scheduled business trip there owing to team losses.
Messi, however, did not obtain such authorization, and as a result, following a day of talks with the club’s administration, he was given a two-game suspension and a two-week pay fine.
On Monday, the 35-year-old was photographed in Riyadh and announced his visit on social media. Messi already represents Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry.
The amount of response from the club, who have decided from publicly commenting, is evidence of a new strategy at PSG, led by president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, where everyone will be subject to the same laws and no one will be bigger than the club.
Messi will now miss the Ligue 1 games against Troyes and Ajaccio, although he could make a comeback for the game on May 21 against Auxerre.
The World Cup champion is nearing the end of a two-year term with the Ligue 1 leaders, and last month Sky Sports News reported that he was waiting to sign a new deal because he wanted to see their sports ambitions for the upcoming season.
Messi, who arrived back in Paris tonight (Tuesday), shared a photo of a line of palm trees with the following statement on Instagram in collaboration with VisitSaudi: “Who knew Saudi Arabia had so much green space? I enjoy discovering its unforeseen surprises whenever I can. #visitsaudi.” More than 5.6 million people liked the article.
When Messi’s contract with PSG expires this summer, Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal wants to sign him. With the support of the nation, they are willing to pay him an absurd £400 million for just one season in order to promote a league that also features Cristiano Ronaldo and the 2022 World Cup winner.
Only hours after Messi had played the full 90 minutes of PSG’s 3-1 home loss to Lorient, which reduced their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to just five points with as many games remaining, tourism minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb tweeted a welcome to Messi and posted pictures of the Argentina World Cup winner.
“I am happy to welcome Messi and his family to Saudi to enjoy the magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences,” Al-Khateeb tweeted. “We welcome visitors from all around the world to experience a unique trip to Saudi Arabia and its hospitality.”
