Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier confirmed that Lionel Messi will start in the face of its guest Ajaccio in the French League – tomorrow, Saturday – after returning to training after being suspended by the club.
“I spoke with him on Tuesday to find out his mentality, and I found him very determined to play. He will start tomorrow,” Galtier told a press conference on Friday.
The Argentine star returned to training – last Monday – after he was suspended for traveling to Saudi Arabia without permission from the club and his absence from a training session as a result.
French media reported that the Argentina captain was suspended for two weeks following the visit when he was supposed to train with the squad the day after a 3-1 defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1 last month.
Messi apologized to Saint-Germain and his teammates last Friday and was left out of the squad during the 3-1 win over Troyes two days later.
Saint-Germain leads the way, 6 points ahead of Lens, and 8 points ahead of Olympique de Marseille, its closest pursuer, with 4 matches remaining in the season.
Mystery surrounds Messi’s future recently, and a source close to the world champion told Reuters that the Argentine star had received an official offer to join the Saudi Hilal next season.
Galtier said that Messi’s focus is on winning the French League, and added that the player “is very keen on winning the title.. In his presence we must adapt compared to what we did against Troyes. Leo remains Leo. I will not talk about statistics, but when he is with us we must play with balance.” Different”.
-Lens could cut the gap to 3 points at the top if they beat Stade Reims at home later on Friday. Saint-Germain has lost 3 of its last 4 home matches.
-On the other hand, Argentine Ramon Diaz, coach of Al Hilal Saudi Arabia, said that he did not know anything about the transfer of his compatriot Lionel Messi, the World Cup winner with Argentina, to Saudi Arabia next season.
Diaz said – in a press conference yesterday, Thursday – before facing Al-Wahda today in the final of the King’s Cup of Saudi Arabia, “Messi is my friend … but I hear, as you hear about the news of his transfer to Al-Hilal.”
Messi’s father had said that the Argentina captain had not “signed or agreed” to a contract to play in Saudi Arabia next season, after media reports reported that the Paris Saint-Germain striker had moved to the Saudi Professional League.
And French media reported last Tuesday that the deal for Messi’s transfer to Saudi Arabia “has already been completed,” adding that the 35-year-old player is in the process of finalizing the last details before signing the contract.
Messi’s father, Jorge, said – in a statement on Instagram – “There is absolutely nothing with any club for next year. We will never make the decision until Lionel finishes (the season) with Saint-Germain.”
He continued, “Once the season is over, it will be time to evaluate things before making any decision .. I assure you that there is nothing with any party. We did not reach a verbal agreement or sign contracts or agree on anything. We will not do that until the season is over.”
Saudi Arabia appointed Messi as an ambassador for tourism last year, and he visited Jeddah in May 2022, then returned last January to play a friendly match with Paris Saint-Germain against Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal teams and faced Cristiano Ronaldo.
