Lionel Messi is understood to have been suspended by Paris Saint-Germain for two weeks following an unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia.
The French giants have acted swiftly on Tuesday evening after the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner left for Saudi Arabia on Monday.
AFP
According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG have confirmed to French press AFP that they have suspended Messi for two weeks with immediate effect after he missed training on Monday.
It means Messi will not play or train with the club for two weeks, while he has also had his pay suspended.
After penning a contract worth £52million-a-year, it will mean that the former Barcelona star will miss out on £2m in wages.
PSG chiefs were left dumbfounded when Messi failed to turn up to training on Monday, as were his teammates.
However, according to Sky Sports, the club have yet to communicate their decision to the mercurial forward.
The Argentine has a contractual obligation to travel to Saudi Arabia after becoming their tourism ambassador.
The Saudi Arabia tourism board are paying Messi £26.5m a year while sporting director Luis Campos had no idea he had jetted off to the Gulf state.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has taken th bold decision to suspend the World Cup winner as his contract continues to dwindle down in Paris.
In total, Messi will miss two matches for PSG as they look to win Ligue 1.
The first is an away trip to Troyes on May 7 before facing AC Ajaccio the following week on May 13.
PSG then have three remaining matches in the league against Auxerre on May 21, Strasbourg on May 27 and Clermont June 3.
However, whether the management at the club will allow Messi to return remains to be seen as tensions mount between the two parties.
AFP
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The 35-year-old is yet to agree a new contract at the Parc des Princes with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
And there has been widespread interest from across the globe, including his old club Barcelona.
Saudi side Al Ittihad have also been strongly linked and want him to play against Cristiano Ronaldo next season, who is at Al Nassr.
While a move to the MLS has not been ruled out where David Beckham’s Inter Miami are keen on signing Messi.
