"I apologise to my team-mates and I await the club's decision. I apologize to my partners and the club," the player said in Spanish in a short video released.

"I honestly thought we were going to have a free day after the game, as we did in the previous weeks. I had organized this trip and I could not cancel it, I had already canceled it before," he added.

Paris SG on Tuesday suspended the Argentine world champion several days after a trip to Saudi Arabia as part of a partnership with the tourist office of this country, carried out without the agreement of its leaders. During this suspension, he does not train, does not play and is not paid.

According to several media, it will last two weeks, information that the club has not confirmed to AFP.

Earlier in the day, coach Christophe Galtier had not let go of this new case that shakes the club, in his press conference before the match in Troyes, Sunday for the 34th matchday of Ligue 1, the first since the suspension of the star.

The technician carefully kicked in touch, while leaving the door open for a return of his Argentine superstar.

"I was informed earlier this week by my management of their decision to suspend Leo. Once I was informed of the decision, I made the decision not to comment on it. I am an employee of the club, a decision is made, I do not comment on it, "explained the Parisian coach two days before the trip to Troyes (20:45).

"I didn't have to make the decision," he added.

Messi, 36 years old in June, whose departure from PSG is likely in June at the end of two largely disappointing seasons, must normally return to the pitches of Ligue 1 after this suspension. His public apology augurs a return for the last three days.

For Messi, "we'll see"

"We will see when Leo comes back, we will see what will happen, obviously there will be discussions with the entire club, but also with Leo who is the first concerned," said Christophe Galtier, who did not wish to speak further on this subject.

Former player and coach of PSG, Antoine Kombouaré castigated Friday the "lynching" of the Argentine, because "we do not touch Messi, whatever he does".

On Wednesday, the day after this new crisis, it was the fans who expressed their dissatisfaction with the results and the situation of the club, in front of the headquarters of PSG and the home of Neymar.

Several security guards were present Friday near the Camp des Loges.

"Regarding the meeting in front of a player's home, you have to be careful about that and privacy remains privacy. I can understand the anger, the disappointment of our supporters, the demonstration in front of the headquarters, our workplace, but I do not accept that we go to the home of a player because there can be excesses because our society has gone crazy.

"Will we see Neymar again next season? I'm already very +focus+ on our last five games and we'll see what happens next season," Galtier said.

"All concentrated and concerned"

At the rally in front of the PSG headquarters, the coach was also targeted by insults, like Messi, Neymar or Marco Verrati.

"I am exposed as a coach, I understand but I remain focused," he continued.

Lionel Messi on April 2, 2023 in Paris © Franck FIFE / AFP/Archives

After its sixth defeat this season, PSG, still leaders and on the verge of winning its 11th title, travels to Troyes (18th, 22 points) on Sunday to try to have a brightening in this dark end of the season.

"To tell you that we are living a pleasant period? No, I grant you. But there is a goal to achieve and my players are working," said Galtier, and "don't think my players don't care when there is a defeat, I saw the reaction of the group, we are all focused and concerned."

"It's not enough but there is a title to go for (...), there is the reality of the dressing room and it shows me that they want to seek the title. It's an unfortunate group when the team loses," he said.

© 2023 AFP