Messi says sorry for trip to Saudi Arabia

Football superstar Lionel Messi has apologised to Paris Saint-Germain and his team-mates for his unauthorised two-day trip to Saudi Arabia that led to him being banned for two weeks by the club.

The Argentina captain has been suspended by PSG for two weeks after making the trip earlier this week and is unable to train or play with the team, meaning he will miss their next two games.

In a video released on Friday, the seven-times Ballon d’Or winner apologised for the trip.

“First of all, I want to apologise to my team-mates and the club,” Messi said in the video, posted to his Instagram story. “Honestly, I thought we [the squad] were going to have a day off after the game like we did in previous weeks.

“I had this trip [to Saudi Arabia] organised which I had cancelled [once] already; I could not cancel it again,” Messi added. “I repeat: I want to say sorry for what I did. I’m waiting to hear what the club want to do with me.”

Things have turned sour for Messi in France in the past couple of months and his latest actions led to one group of supporters calling for the Argentinian’s exit in an ill-tempered protest outside the club’s headquarters.

Messi’s time at PSG is coming to the end with the forward deciding to leave in the summer and The Times reported earlier this week that he is the subject of a three-way fight for his signature with Inter Miami, Barcelona and the Saudi team Al-Hilal all keen to land him.