<p>Paris Saint-Germain's relationship with Lionel Messi is set to end after two underwhelming years following the French champions' decision to suspend the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for going on <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/messi-suspended-for-two-weeks-after-trip-to-saudi-arabia-1215133.html" target="_blank">an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia</a>.</p>.<p>Greeted as a hero by adoring supporters when he arrived in Paris from Barcelona in August 2021, Messi was supposed to be the man to deliver PSG elusive Champions League success.</p>.<p>It has not worked out and some of those fans had recently turned against a player they see as a symbol of all the club have done wrong in focusing on superstar signings while failing to build a genuinely competitive team.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/messi-scores-stunner-as-psg-beat-title-rivals-lens-1210119.html" target="_blank">Messi scores stunner as PSG beat title rivals Lens</a></strong></p>.<p>Having at one point looked set to secure Messi's signature for another season, the Qatar-owned club briefed a month ago that the player was now "much more likely" to depart at the campaign's end when his contract expires.</p>.<p>This week's events are surely the final straw.</p>.<p>Messi, who will be 36 in June, played in PSG's insipid 3-1 home defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday.</p>.<p>He then travelled to Saudi Arabia to fulfil commitments as part of a contract with the country's tourist office.</p>.<p>As a result Messi missed a training session pencilled in for Monday following the weekend defeat.</p>.<p>PSG acted swiftly to punish Messi, despite his status as one of the sport's greats.</p>.<p>He has been suspended even though PSG still need points to retain the French title with five matches left this season.</p>.<p>A source with knowledge of the disciplinary procedure told <em>AFP </em>that Argentina's World-Cup winning captain would be sidelined for "several days".</p>.<p>Various media in France reported he would be suspended for two weeks.</p>.<p>"He cannot train, cannot play, and will not be paid while disciplinary measures are in place," the source added.</p>.<p>Hours later the Saudi tourist board issued a press release to celebrate Messi's visit and detail his "jam-packed itinerary" which included feeding a herd of gazelles.</p>.<p>"Messi's visit to Saudi was packed with exciting activities, with something for everyone in the family," it said.</p>.<p>Meanwhile his teammates were back on the training ground in Paris after suffering a sixth defeat in 17 Ligue 1 matches in 2023.</p>.<p>That Messi should miss training to fly instead to Saudi Arabia could be seen as especially embarrassing for PSG's owners given recent frictions between Qatar and its Gulf neighbour.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia imposed a diplomatic blockade on Qatar in 2017 along with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, although a reconciliation accord was sealed in January 2021 and the countries have since renewed relations.</p>.<p>The front page of Wednesday's edition of French sports daily <em>L'Equipe </em>carried images of Messi and PSG's Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi. "The Break-up" read the headline.</p>.<p>When Messi was unveiled by PSG, he said winning another Champions League title was his "dream" and that he thought he was in "the ideal place" to do it.</p>.<p>Yet it turns out that adding an ageing Messi to an attack already containing Kylian Mbappe and Neymar is not a recipe for European success.</p>.<p>With Messi, PSG have suffered consecutive exits from the Champions League in the last 16.</p>.<p>They did win Ligue 1 last season and are on course to do so again this year, even if they limp towards the finish line.</p>.<p>Messi scored just 11 goals in a difficult first season in Paris as he digested his departure from Barcelona.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/fifa-threatens-womens-world-cup-broadcast-blackout-in-europe-1214853.html" target="_blank">FIFA threatens Women's World Cup broadcast blackout in Europe</a></strong></p>.<p>He has contributed 20 in all competitions this season and is also the leading assist-provider in Ligue 1.</p>.<p>Messi has developed a good understanding with Mbappe but there have only been glimpses of him at his very best.</p>.<p>PSG's chances of winning the Champions League will not be diminished by losing Messi, but it remains to be seen where the player himself goes next.</p>.<p>Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to bring him back, yet the Catalans' ongoing financial issues cast doubt on their ability to make a deal happen.</p>.<p>There are no other obvious options available to Messi in Europe, meaning he may have to consider a move elsewhere.</p>.<p>MLS outfit Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, have long been considered a possible destination for Messi.</p>.<p>Another is Saudi Arabia, where he could renew his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently moved to Riyadh side Al Nassr.</p>
<p>Paris Saint-Germain's relationship with Lionel Messi is set to end after two underwhelming years following the French champions' decision to suspend the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for going on <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/messi-suspended-for-two-weeks-after-trip-to-saudi-arabia-1215133.html" target="_blank">an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia</a>.</p>.<p>Greeted as a hero by adoring supporters when he arrived in Paris from Barcelona in August 2021, Messi was supposed to be the man to deliver PSG elusive Champions League success.</p>.<p>It has not worked out and some of those fans had recently turned against a player they see as a symbol of all the club have done wrong in focusing on superstar signings while failing to build a genuinely competitive team.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/messi-scores-stunner-as-psg-beat-title-rivals-lens-1210119.html" target="_blank">Messi scores stunner as PSG beat title rivals Lens</a></strong></p>.<p>Having at one point looked set to secure Messi's signature for another season, the Qatar-owned club briefed a month ago that the player was now "much more likely" to depart at the campaign's end when his contract expires.</p>.<p>This week's events are surely the final straw.</p>.<p>Messi, who will be 36 in June, played in PSG's insipid 3-1 home defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday.</p>.<p>He then travelled to Saudi Arabia to fulfil commitments as part of a contract with the country's tourist office.</p>.<p>As a result Messi missed a training session pencilled in for Monday following the weekend defeat.</p>.<p>PSG acted swiftly to punish Messi, despite his status as one of the sport's greats.</p>.<p>He has been suspended even though PSG still need points to retain the French title with five matches left this season.</p>.<p>A source with knowledge of the disciplinary procedure told <em>AFP </em>that Argentina's World-Cup winning captain would be sidelined for "several days".</p>.<p>Various media in France reported he would be suspended for two weeks.</p>.<p>"He cannot train, cannot play, and will not be paid while disciplinary measures are in place," the source added.</p>.<p>Hours later the Saudi tourist board issued a press release to celebrate Messi's visit and detail his "jam-packed itinerary" which included feeding a herd of gazelles.</p>.<p>"Messi's visit to Saudi was packed with exciting activities, with something for everyone in the family," it said.</p>.<p>Meanwhile his teammates were back on the training ground in Paris after suffering a sixth defeat in 17 Ligue 1 matches in 2023.</p>.<p>That Messi should miss training to fly instead to Saudi Arabia could be seen as especially embarrassing for PSG's owners given recent frictions between Qatar and its Gulf neighbour.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia imposed a diplomatic blockade on Qatar in 2017 along with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, although a reconciliation accord was sealed in January 2021 and the countries have since renewed relations.</p>.<p>The front page of Wednesday's edition of French sports daily <em>L'Equipe </em>carried images of Messi and PSG's Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi. "The Break-up" read the headline.</p>.<p>When Messi was unveiled by PSG, he said winning another Champions League title was his "dream" and that he thought he was in "the ideal place" to do it.</p>.<p>Yet it turns out that adding an ageing Messi to an attack already containing Kylian Mbappe and Neymar is not a recipe for European success.</p>.<p>With Messi, PSG have suffered consecutive exits from the Champions League in the last 16.</p>.<p>They did win Ligue 1 last season and are on course to do so again this year, even if they limp towards the finish line.</p>.<p>Messi scored just 11 goals in a difficult first season in Paris as he digested his departure from Barcelona.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/fifa-threatens-womens-world-cup-broadcast-blackout-in-europe-1214853.html" target="_blank">FIFA threatens Women's World Cup broadcast blackout in Europe</a></strong></p>.<p>He has contributed 20 in all competitions this season and is also the leading assist-provider in Ligue 1.</p>.<p>Messi has developed a good understanding with Mbappe but there have only been glimpses of him at his very best.</p>.<p>PSG's chances of winning the Champions League will not be diminished by losing Messi, but it remains to be seen where the player himself goes next.</p>.<p>Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to bring him back, yet the Catalans' ongoing financial issues cast doubt on their ability to make a deal happen.</p>.<p>There are no other obvious options available to Messi in Europe, meaning he may have to consider a move elsewhere.</p>.<p>MLS outfit Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, have long been considered a possible destination for Messi.</p>.<p>Another is Saudi Arabia, where he could renew his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently moved to Riyadh side Al Nassr.</p>