After being punished for traveling to Saudi Arabia and skipping a training session as a result, Lionel Messi is once again working out with Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 club announced on Monday.
The Argentine star resumed his training after the suspension was lifted, according to a source with knowledge of the issue who spoke to The Associated Press. PSG did not formally confirm if Messi’s disciplinary sentence had been lifted.
Because they were not authorized to speak in public about the situation, the individual talked on the condition of anonymity. The duration of the punishment was not disclosed by PSG, although sources told ESPN that it will last two weeks.
In the absence of an injury, the move means that the World Cup winner will be eligible for PSG’s upcoming league match against Ajaccio on Saturday.
After taking an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia the day after the Ligue 1 leaders’ 3-1 loss to Lorient last month, Messi was reportedly suspended for two weeks, according to French media. Messi was due to train with the team that day.
Messi, who expressed regret to PSG and his teammates on Friday, was not included in the team for their 3-1 victory over Troyes on Sunday.
The Argentine striker from Paris Saint-Germain was back in training on Monday, May 8, according to a social media post from PSG that included a photo of Messi working out.
ESPN was informed by sources that Messi worked out alone on Monday while the team had the day off.
With four rounds of games remaining in the season, PSG sits eight points ahead of Marseille and six points ahead of Lens.
Many rumors have been made about Messi’s potential at PSG.
The World Cup winner, who turns 36 next month, has reportedly received an official offer to play for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal club next season, according to a source close to the Argentina captain who spoke to Reuters.
Messi was named the tourist ambassador for Saudi Arabia last year, and he traveled to Jeddah in May 2022.
In January, he came back to play for PSG in a friendly against a squad of Saudi League stars, where he came up against his archrival Cristiano Ronaldo.