Following Lionel Messi’s unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, Paris Saint-Germain reportedly decided not to extend his contract.
After PSG’s unexpected 3-1 loss to Lorient on Sunday, the 35-year-old made a trip to the Middle East. Messi is said to have traveled as part of his responsibilities as the Gulf state’s tourism ambassador. Although training was scheduled for that day, it was stated on Tuesday that the club had not approved of this action. The Argentine was consequently given a two-week suspension without pay, while L’Equipe is reportedly claiming a considerably worse penalty.
It is now known that PSG won’t extend Messi’s contract at the end of the current season. The Argentine star’s current contract will end this summer, as has been widely reported, however the capital club did have the opportunity to activate a provision for a third season. Senior club executives were reportedly leaning towards letting Messi depart, but talks were still going on and a contract extension was still a possibility. However, it now seems that the trip to Saudi Arabia was the deciding factor, and Messi’s departure this summer is a given.
Messi just has three more games left in a PSG uniform due to the club’s two-week suspension. Despite the potential financial costs to the club, the developments are a major boost to Barcelona’s hopes of re-signing the Argentina star. Inter Miami of the MLS and the odd Saudi team Al-Hilal are two further interested partners.
Should manager Christophe Galtier want to use the Argentine, his final three PSG matches after serving his suspension will be against Auxerre, Strasbourg, and Clermont before he ends his stint in France, where he has amassed 31 goals and 34 assists in 71 appearances.
