Lionel Messi to start for PSG for first time since suspension

Lionel Messi is set to start for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for the first time since being suspended for making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

Messi will feature in PSG’s starting XI when they host AC Ajaccio at Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 on Saturday. It is a crucial fixture as the Ligue 1 champions have lost three out of their last four home games.

Initially, Messi – who has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia – was suspended by PSG for two weeks for travelling to the Middle Eastern country without permission. Messi took the trip after PSG’s home loss to Lorient on April 30.

"He [Messi] will start tomorrow," PSG manager Christophe Galtier told reporters at the pre-match conference.

"I spoke with him on Tuesday to see what his mindset was and I found him very determined to play," added Galtier.

The World Cup-winning captain’s suspension was cut short as he returned to training on Monday having been left out of the squad for their 3-1 win at Troyes the previous day.

"He's very eager to win that title. With him in the team we'll have to adjust compared to what we did against Troyes. Leo is Leo. I'm not going to go into statistics but when he's with us we have to strike a different balance," said Galtier.

It was earlier reported that during the time of suspension, Messi was not even allowed to train with PSG and was not paid for those days.

Messi, who has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in the country, supposedly requested permission to take the trip, but PSG denied the request. When the trip was planned in the first place, there was no training session in the schedule. However, a late change in that led to Messi missing a training, leading to his suspension. This incident has taken place at a crucial time considering the veteran forward has not signed an extension with PSG as yet and is heavily linked with a move away at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Messi took to social media and apologized to his PSG teammates for taking the trip to Saudi Arabia.

"I am sorry for what I did and I wait to see what the club decides. I honestly thought we were going to have the day off after the match as had happened in the previous weeks. I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia having cancelled it previously. This time I couldn't cancel it," Messi said in a video posted on Instagram.

Meanwhile, PSG boss Galtier made it clear that he didn’t have a role to play in Messi’s suspension, while also condemning fan protests outside players' homes. A handful of PSG supporters gathered outside the club’s headquarters in Paris and sent out abuses Messi’s way in Spanish and French. Some of the fans also headed to Neymar’s place, chanting the Brazilian forward to leave the club.

"Leo's suspension has added to poor performances, we can't hide behind that. The decision was nothing to do with me. I was informed of the decision. I can't say it has been a pleasant period," added Galtier.

The actions of the supporters prompted the club to increase security at the homes of Messi, Neymar, Italy midfielder Marco Verratti and Galtier, as well as at the club's training ground.

Messi has netted 20 goals and 19 assists for PSG in 37 matches in all competitions this season. PSG are just six points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table with four games remaining in the ongoing campaign.