Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation’s latest crime is further evidence of its ongoing implementation of genocide through starvation.
Gaza Government Media Office: This is a methodical use of aid as a tool of war to blackmail hungry civilians.
Gaza Government media office: Massacre committed by occupation today is a blatant war crime under international law.

Messi's PSG future in doubt after suspension over Saudi Arabia trip

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 May 2023 15:33
3 Min Read

A source close to PSG says Messi was now "much more likely" to depart from the club.

  • x
  • Messi's PSG future in doubt after suspension over Saudi Arabia trip
    Lionel Messi (Reuters)

Lionel Messi's future at PSG was brought into question on Wednesday after he was suspended by Paris Saint-Germain over his trip to Saudi Arabia without the club's permission.

A source with knowledge of the disciplinary procedure told AFP that Argentina's 35-year-old World-Cup winning captain, who is out of contract at the end of the season, would be sidelined for "several days", while various media in France reported that he would be suspended for two weeks.

"He cannot train, cannot play, and will not be paid while disciplinary measures are in place," the source indicated.

Another source indicated that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would "probably" be sidelined for two weeks, stressing that "nobody is more important than the club."

Messi played the whole game in PSG's 3-1 home defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday. He then headed to Saudi Arabia to fulfill commercial commitments in his role as a tourism ambassador for the Gulf state.

The Saudi Tourism Authority said in a press release on Wednesday that Messi had "returned to Saudi for a second time, this time with his family."

As a result of the trip, Messi missed a training session scheduled for Monday following the weekend defeat.

The PSG squad was given a day off on Tuesday, and Messi did not take part in training on Wednesday either.

The disciplinary measures make the prospect of Messi staying in the French capital after his two-year deal expires at the end of this season even more remote.

Related News

Former Barcelona FC Pres. Rosell talks to Al Mayadeen on Neymar, Messi

Messi says uncertain about 2026 World Cup participation

Having at one point looked set to extend his stay for another year, a source close to the club told AFP last month that Messi was now "much more likely" to depart.

Messi arrived from Barcelona, the club where he had spent the majority of his career, in 2021 but has struggled to reproduce his best form at Qatar-backed Paris.

Despite that, he has scored 31 goals in 71 appearances in all competitions.

Messi has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season and is the leading assist provider in Ligue 1, with 15 assists.

But his form since leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar has declined along with that of most of the PSG team.

Their bland performance against Lorient was the sixth defeat in 17 Ligue 1 matches in 2023. They remain five points ahead of Marseille at the top of the table with five games left and are still on course for a record 11th French title.

However, they were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16 by Bayern Munich and also exited the French Cup at the same stage against Marseille.

Meanwhile, hundreds of fans gathered at the club to protest over PSG's current form and the Messi saga.

"We're fed up with mercenaries! We must sack Messi! We must sack Nasser Al-Khelaifi (the club's Qatari president)," supporters chanted.

Read more: 'Allez Les Bleus!', but Islam evidently isn’t blue - Part I

  • Lionel Messi
  • Paris
  • football
  • Ligue 1
  • PSG
  • Paris Saint-Germain
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS