Metropolis Desk-
Lionel Messi has returned to training with Paris Saint-Germain after his suspension for taking an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia was lifted. The Argentine apologised to the club and his team-mates for taking the two-day trip to the Middle East at the beginning of last week.
PSG banned the World Cup winner for two weeks and also docked some of his wages, but Messi came back into the fold on Monday. Having missed Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Troyes in Ligue 1, Messi will now be back in contention for Saturday’s home fixture with Ajaccio, reports Daily Mail.
The 35-year-old’s expected return comes as PSG hope to secure the title with their lead over Lens currently standing at six points with four matches left to play.
Messi, wife Antonela Roccuzzo and children Ciro and Mateo, travelled to Saudi Arabia last Monday as part of his £25million-a-year role as an ambassador for the country. They were photographed enjoying attractions in the capital Riyadh and Diriyah.
PSG’s players had a scheduled day off on the Monday but following their 3-1 defeat to Lorient the previous day, manager Christophe Galtier ordered them in for extra training.
Messi, however, was already in transit to Saudi Arabia – a country where he could be playing his football next season – and wasn’t able to turn back.
Because the trip was not sanctioned by Galtier, nor by sporting director Luis Campos, PSG suspended Messi for 15 days and also docked some of his wages. On Friday, Messi apologised in a social media message to the club and his team-mates for missing the training session.
