Lionel Messi was reportedly on the verge of having his Paris Saint-Germain contract terminated after taking his unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
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According to RMC Sport, Les Parisiens were furious with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for taking the unsanctioned trip to the Gulf state after their home league defeat to Lorient.
That, alongside other shortcomings, was said to have led to the club sending the diminutive attacker and his representatives a summons letter for a pre-dismissal meeting.
The Argentine's entourage looked to quickly overturn the situation, though, with the report claiming the two parties eventually came to a secret agreement that would have the Rosario native see out the rest of his contract in Paris instead.
PSG and Messi are said to have agreed that the 35-year-old would issue a public apology and that he would then be welcomed back to first-team training thereafter as the club looks to secure a record 11th Ligue 1 title.
The La Masia graduate did just that, taking to Instagram to explain that he thought the team had a day off after the Lorient game and that he needed to fulfil his contractual obligations as a tourism ambassador for the nation of Saudi Arabia by taking the time out to fly to the Middle East.
This saga marks the latest in Messi's tumultuous tenure in Paris as the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner looks poised to call time on his stint at the Parc des Princes.
It is reported that the football icon will not extend his stay with PSG and favours a return to Barcelona, with the French giants also looking to shift away from a culture of signing mega-money stars.
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The club has since welcomed the Argentina international back to full first-team training, but it remains to be seen if head coach Christophe Galtier will reintroduce the forward for the game against Ajaccio on Saturday.
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