Messi set to start against AC Ajaccio- Galtier

FOOTBALL Messi set to start against AC Ajaccio- Galtier

Mark Kinyanjui 18:29 - 12.05.2023

The Argentina captain was initially suspended by the club for two weeks for the trip.

Lionel Messi may not have played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain after all, as he will return to the starting line-up on Saturday for the first time since making an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Argentina captain was initially suspended by the club for two weeks due to the trip, which followed PSG's home defeat to Lorient on 30 April.

The Ligue 1 leaders, who have suffered three defeats in their past four home games, face AC Ajaccio on Saturday.

"He [Messi] will start tomorrow," PSG manager Christophe Galtier said, “I spoke with him on Tuesday to see what his mindset was and I found him very determined to play,"

Messi, who has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia, apologized to his teammates last Friday for making the unauthorized trip.

The World Cup winner returned to training on Monday having been left out of the squad for their 3-1 win at Troyes the previous day.

"He's very eager to win that title," Galtier added. "With him in the team we'll have to adjust compared to what we did against Troyes. Leo is Leo. I'm not going to go into statistics but when he's with us we have to strike a different balance."

Messi is set to leave PSG when his contract expires in the summer and has been linked with a move to Saudi club Al Hilal.

His former teammate at Barcelona Sergio Busquets is also linked with the club having announced his departure from the Catalan club this week.