Lionel Messi issues video apology to PSG for Saudi trip

He’s arguably the greatest player to have ever graced the Beautiful Game, but even legends need to say sorry when they step out of line. After disappearing to Saudi Arabia when he was meant to be training with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates, Lionel Messi took to Instagram to make his apology.

“I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always,” the Argentine said. “I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it... I had already canceled it before.

“I apologise to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me”.

So, with that, will he be instantly forgiven by the club and fans? Remember that his contract is ticking down to what many believe will be a summer exit anyway, another year and another disappointing season for the Qatar-backed club.

The fans considered his action a lack of respect. He was already receiving boos from the fans after a bout of poor performances. Now, it’s just become more sour. After the team lost to Lorient on Sunday, rather than stay with the team and practice the next day, Messi took an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. The trip was planned in advance, but they were not expecting to lose that game - a win would have given the team more time off. Regardless, Messi left for the trip and received a two-week, unpaid suspension.

How do PSG fans feel about Messi?

Many PSG fans are more than ready for Messi to leave the club. Several pointed out that he’s too expensive to keep around without significant results and many others spoke to a “disrespect” for the club. Outside of the PSG headquarters, several fans gathered to protest with vulgar chants about Messi making their stance clear - they want him gone.

“You don’t miss training, especially after defeat,” said one fan at the protest. “He can play the last two games, against Clermont at the Parc de Princes, but I don’t want to see him anymore.”

“He’s old. It’s a big salary for nothing,” one fan commented. “We could take several young players in his place. He doesn’t dirty the shirt. He doesn’t know the history of the club.”

“I think the story has gone on long enough,” said another fan. “There have been enough problems with the club, I think it’s better for everyone that it ends here. It’s going to end on a bad note and a bad game, because he played a bad game against Lorient, like the whole team.”

“He brings nothing interesting on the field, no added value,” another fan commented. “He only sells jerseys. That’s not why we’re here. We want to win trophies.”

“The first thing for a player is to respect his club,” said another. “We can’t afford to keep a player who doesn’t respect us anymore. When you see what’s happening at PSG at the moment, it’s the last straw.”