FRANCE | MESSI
PSG confirm Messi’s return date
The PSG coach spoke to the media before the match against Strasbourg and confirmed when Messi would be back in the PSG ranks.
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier spoke to the media ahead of the Ligue 1 coash against Strasbourg and announced that Leo Messi will return to training at the beginning of January. “Messi had, like many of his teammates, a great World Cup. Due to Argentina’s victory and the subsequent celebrations, we decided that he was not going to train until at least 1 January (2023). He will rejoin us on the 2nd or 3rd so that he can resume competition as soon as possible,” he said.
The Argentinian star is expected to feature on the Ligue 1 clash on 11 January as PSG take on Angers at the Parc des Princes. He will not play on January 1 against Lens in a high profile league clash will also sit-out the Châteauroux French Cup game on January 6.
Galtier also congratulated Mbappé's exemplary attitude in the final and his relationship with Messi: “I don’t want to talk about Argentina celebrating, that’s a matter for Argentines. Nor will I talk about the Argentine goalkeeper and his attitude (Dibu Martínez). The most important thing is what I saw in the final. Kylian and Leo held hands, and Kylian’s attitude after the game and before the trophy ceremony was exemplary”.
The PSG coach also offered an update on Neymar, with the Brazilian striker suffering an ankle injury at the World Cup: “We saw his swollen ankle, but he was able to play two matches after. In the meantime, he was able to heal and had twelve days off. He went home with his medical team around him to treat his ankle. When he returned on the 22nd, he was working without any complications. He’s fine physically, his ankle is fine. Mentally, he really wants to play, so everything is going well.”