Staff Reporter.
Lionel Messi will start Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 game against Ac Ajaccio on Saturday after returning to training following a club-imposed suspension, coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday.
“I spoke with him on Tuesday to see what his mindset was and I found him very determined to play… He will start tomorrow,” Galtier told a press conference.
Messi was told he would be made unavailable for selection for a fortnight, and did miss PSG’s win at Troyes on Sunday night. But the 35-year-old was back in training on Monday morning, albeit without his PSG colleagues.
They were given the day off following the victory, but Messi was pictured back at their training camp.
Messi broke his silence to apologise to his employers on Friday evening, posting a video across his social media channels. “I thought we had a day off after the game. I had organised this trip and I could not cancel it. I had cancelled it before.
“I apologise to my teammates and I am waiting for what the club wants to do with me.”
In the short-term then, Messi return to action for PSG, but it is now a near-certainty that he will be leaving the French capital at the end of the season.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.