An explanation for the absence of Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain’s travelling squad to take on AS Monaco has been provided on Saturday.
Amid the club’s ongoing pursuit of yet another Ligue 1 title, PSG will of course return to action tomorrow afternoon, in a showdown with the aforementioned Monaco at the The Stade Louis II.
In turn, ahead of his side’s trip down south, Mauricio Pochettino’s travelling panel of players was, a short time ago, made official.
As alluded to above, though, one altogether noteworthy absence from the party came in the form of none other than Lionel Messi:
🆗✔️ The Parisian squad 🆚 @AS_Monaco_EN
#ASMPSG https://t.co/ZXU7lnU11J pic.twitter.com/WjbLbygbsG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 19, 2022
An explanation for as much has therefore since been provided, with PSG’s 7-time Ballon d’Or winner understood to have come down with a bout of illness:
Lionel Messi is out for PSG due to flu like symptoms. He will miss their match against Monaco. pic.twitter.com/pDIH35q5qN
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 19, 2022
‘Always open’
Interestingly, news of Messi’s impending absence on Sunday comes after none other than Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez was drawn on the woes of his one-time teammate earlier today.
Amid the Argentine’s ongoing struggles to rediscover his best form in the French capital – culminating in the home support in attendance at PSG’s meeting with Bordeaux last weekend taking aim at Messi courtesy of a series of boos and jeers – the possibility of the Blaugrana icon sealing a return to the Camp Nou in the near future was put to Xavi by the expectant media.
And Barca’s boss, for one, appears very much open to such a prospect, having confirmed that ‘the doors will always be open’ for Messi at the club:
Xavi: “Leo Messi is the best player in history and the doors will always be open here at Barça for him”. 🇦🇷 #FCB
“He deserves a big tribute – and I can’t say much more because he has a contract with Paris Saint-Germain”, he added. pic.twitter.com/CTApHvDHul
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 19, 2022
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