The departure of the Argentine star from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has left more questions than answers. The end of the romance now fuels speculation about the 35-year-old champion's soccer future. Here are the latest details:
The Reason for the Breakup
Lionel Messi was suspended earlier this week by PSG for taking a personal promotional trip to Saudi Arabia without permission. This upset the PSG board to the point of releasing the Argentine star. Since the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's two-year contract with PSG ends this summer, he is now set to leave the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer to any other club.
Messi joined PSG in the summer of 2021 on a two-year contract after leaving Barcelona due to financial problems.
The 35-year-old has played 71 times for the French side, scoring 31 goals, registering 34 assists and lifting the title in 2022. According to some reports, PSG is also interested in transferring Brazilian striker Neymar.
Controversial Suspension
PSG suspended Messi this week due to the aforementioned trip to Saudi Arabia. It is understood that the Argentina international asked PSG for permission to travel to the country, which he did on Sunday night, having twice postponed a scheduled commercial trip due to the team's defeats.
However, Messi did not obtain official authorization from the club, and was therefore suspended for two matches and fined two weeks' salary after a day of meetings between the club's hierarchy.
Messi will now miss the Ligue 1 matches against Troyes and Ajaccio, but could return for the match against Auxerre on May 21.
MESSI BROKE THE SILENCE!!! After all the trouble generated by his trip to Saudi Arabia (he left without authorization from PSG), the Argentine genius came out to apologize to his teammates and the Parisian club.
Lionel Messi: "First of all I apologize to my teammates, to the club.... pic.twitter.com/JZLfwaLUfq
- Invictos (@InvictosSomos) May 5, 2023
What's next for Messi?
Messi still believes he can play at the highest level in Europe and Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to re-sign him this summer.
Whether Barcelona can afford to offer him a new contract remains to be seen, but he is far more likely to stay in Europe than move to Inter Miami, or any other MLS club, or Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career.
Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal want to sign Messi this summer and, with the country's backing, are prepared to pay the astronomical sum of £400 million for just one season to market a league that already includes Cristiano Ronaldo. Considering Ronaldo's recent troubles in the Middle East, Messi's arrival looks unlikely.
Given the circumstances in the Middle East, and the possible departure of Ronaldo, Messi could look elsewhere. While a return to Barcelona seems most likely, the finances of the Catalan club do not seem to allow it. It will depend on the financial agreement that both sides can reach that will determine whether a reunion will be possible.