Lionel Messi is again part of the selection of Paris Saint-Germain, the club shows via a photo on social media. It seems that the suspension of the 35-year-old Argentinian has been shortened by a week. After Messi skipped training for a trip to Saudi Arabia last Monday, PSG were unrelenting. The left leg would have been suspended for two full weeks, but is now back on the training field.
Due to his suspension, Messi missed Sunday’s match against Troyes AC (1-3 win). Without the star player, coach Christophe Galtier’s team managed to book an easy victory, so that the Parisians are still the leaders in Ligue 1. Messi is expected to make his comeback next Saturday evening during the home game with AC Ajaccio. PSG will play a total of four more games until Messi’s contract expires at the end of June.
???? Leo Messi back in training this Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/Neo6GEWEIm
— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_English) May 8, 2023
Messi’s suspension last week unleashed a lot. The plan was that the PSG players would get two days rest if they managed to win the league game with Lorient, hence Messi’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia. However, a harrowing 1–3 defeat changed the club’s plans. Galtier decided that his squad would start training the day after the defeat. They eventually did, without Messi.
The assailant then gave his side of the story. “I thought, as always, we would have a day off after the game (against Lorient, 1-3 defeat, ed.),” the world champion said in an Instagram story. “I planned this trip and I couldn’t cancel it. I had done that once before. I want to apologize to my teammates and wait to see what the club has in mind for me.” The cold air now seems to have cleared and Messi is back on the training field earlier than expected.