Lionel Messi back in training with PSG after ban for Saudi Arabia trip

By Sports Desk May 08, 2023

Lionel Messi has returned to training with Paris St Germain following his suspension over an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Ligue 1 club confirmed on their official Twitter account on Monday morning that the 35-year-old Argentina international was back among the fold after he was fined and suspended for undertaking a promotional visit to the Middle East country without permission.

The post, which was accompanied by a photograph of the World Cup winner in training kit, said simply: “Leo Messi back in training this Monday morning.”

Messi, who is an ambassador for the Saudi Tourism Authority, was pictured in Riyadh the day after his side had suffered a surprise defeat to Lorient.

He later revealed in a video posted on his official Instagram account that he had to make the trip for contractual reasons, having previously cancelled it, and had assumed he had a day off.

Messi said: “I wanted to make this video due to everything that is happening.

“First of all, I want to say sorry to my team-mates and to the club. I honestly thought that we were going to be free after the game, as had been the case in previous weeks.

“I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia, which had been cancelled previously and this time I couldn’t. I apologise again and I’m here for whatever the club decide. All the best.”

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner joined PSG from Barcelona in August 2021 after the Catalan club ran into severe financial difficulties and, although a return has been mooted, those difficulties make that unlikely.

In recent days, he has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia’s Pro League amid reports he could earn up to £320million a year.

Related items

  • Ramos in 'final phase' of recovery, says PSG boss Luis Enrique Ramos in 'final phase' of recovery, says PSG boss Luis Enrique

    Luis Enrique confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos is nearing a return to action after sustaining an ankle injury on the opening day of the season. 

    Ramos, who scored 14 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions in his debut season for PSG last year, has not featured for the Parisiens since their 4-1 win over Le Havre in August.

    But despite his absence, Luis Enrique's side sit top of the Ligue 1 standings ahead of welcoming Toulouse to the Parc des Princes this Friday. 

    They are also the top scorers in the division, netting 33 goals in 11 matches so far, nine more than Marseille, who are second in the scoring table. 

    And as the hectic festive schedule kickstarts, Luis Enrique revealed Ramos has already returned to full first-team training. 

    "It was the 25th and that is in a few days, so it is the final phase of his recovery," Luis Enrique told reporters.

    "As for when he is available (to play) we do not know. We will see in training, he is doing really well and is in full training."

    Following Friday's fixture against Toulouse, PSG travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League, hoping to ignite their European campaign. 

    The Ligue 1 champions are at risk of failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition having taken four points from their first four games this season.

    They currently sit 25th in the new 36-team league table, and with an important week coming up, Luis Enrique insisted he would think about rotating his squad. 

    "You mustn't only think about the game against Toulouse but also the workload for players with their national teams," he said. 

    "So we will make decisions based on what we think. We want to win against Toulouse, which is our main target."

    Ousmane Dembele did not feature during the international break after he left the France training camp with a hamstring issue, though he is expected to feature this Friday. 

    "In theory, it was nothing serious. I don't think it was a big issue and these things happen during the season," Luis Enrique said.

    "It is normal with such a busy schedule, he should be available to play."

    While Toulouse sit 10th in the league standings, they will provide PSG with a difficult test. They come into the game on the back of three consecutive wins, all without conceding a goal. 

    PSG have also not won any of their last two meetings against Toulouse (D1 L1), and could go three games without a win against the Violets for the second time in the 21st century after a winless streak between December 2007 to October 2009 (five). 

  • Jonathan David names Barcelona as dream club amid Lille uncertainty Jonathan David names Barcelona as dream club amid Lille uncertainty

    Jonathan David admits it is his dream to play for Barcelona as he prepares to enter the final six months of his Lille contract.

    The Canada international is into his fifth season with the Ligue 1 side but is due to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign.

    Lille have attempted to persuade David with a new deal, though he looks set to depart Stade Pierre-Mauroy in 2025 – potentially as early as January if a club is prepared to pay a transfer fee.

    However, while the 24-year-old is seemingly open to a move to Barcelona, he suggested he would prefer to wait until the end of the campaign before taking the next step in his career.

    "Going to a club midseason is never easy," he told The Athletic. "It's not like the beginning of a season where you have a pre-season, you get to know your team-mates, you have time to gel. 

    "In January, things are very hectic. It's about right now. It's tougher."

    "[Barcelona] was always the team I grew up supporting. When you grow up supporting a team, it's your dream to play for them.

    "Some people might say, 'Oh, he's staying at Lille, this is a downgrade, he's not getting better'. But for me, there's always opportunities to get better."

    David has scored 13 goals in 19 games for Lille in all competitions this season, including goals against heavyweight sides Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League.

    Including penalties, eight of those goals have been scored via his stronger right boot, four with his left and one with his head – an area the forward accepts he can still improve.

    "Aerially, I can get better," he said. "Getting that header on target and scoring. 

    "I can get in good positions and win headers but the finishing touch, I'm still missing. With my back to goal, I can also get better."

    David is averaging a goal every 112 minutes across all competitions this season, which compares to one every 139 minutes last season and 131 in 2022-23.

    However, he still has some way to go to match the 18 goals scored in 27 league games for former club Gent in 2019-20.

    "Things are good right now because I'm scoring goals," David said. 

    "But is this the best I've played in my life? Probably not. For me, it was my second year in Belgium. That was the season of my life."

  • Luis Enrique hails PSG's efficiency as they return to winning ways Luis Enrique hails PSG's efficiency as they return to winning ways

    Luis Enrique has lauded Paris Saint-Germain's efficiency as they clinically brushed aside Angers 4-2 in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

    PSG bounced back after a disappointing midweek 2-1 home loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League by producing a dominant first-half performance, in which they scored all four of their goals, to remain unbeaten in the league.

    PSG put on an attacking show throughout though, accumulating 3.5 expected goals (xG) from their 26 shots, 12 of which hit the target, while they also struck the woodwork. 

    Luis Enrique, who said on Friday there was a "blockage in finishing", highlighted the improvement in attack.

    "It was a very complete game for our team. It was a game with a lot at stake. We were extremely efficient," Luis Enrique told a news conference.

    "The blockage we talked about earlier is going to end sooner or later. We're in a process of improving."

    While PSG lead Ligue 1 with 29 points, six clear of second-placed Monaco, their qualifying chances in Europe have shrunk as they sit 25th in the 36-team league, just in the elimination zone, midway through the group phase.

    But Luis Enrique is confident his side will show their quality in Europe's elite club competition to reverse their poor form.

    "This team has good players. The quality is there. No matter who's on the pitch, even the newcomers," he said.

    "Maybe it is a question of pressure [in the Champions League]. But we're going to score a lot of goals. The quality is there to rise to the challenge. It's all in our hands."

    Luis Enrique dedicated Saturday's win to his assistant coach Rafel Pol following the death of his wife after a long illness.

    "We want to dedicate this victory to Raquel and Rafel, and, of course, to their family. We share their grief and send them lots of support," the Spaniard added.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.