The Argentine returned to training on Monday after apologising for his trip to Saudi Arabia, and is seemingly back in favour at Parc des Princes
All it took was one apology video. A blank Lionel Messi stared into a camera, stood in front of a colourless wall wearing a crisp suit. In the 38-second clip, he apologised to his team-mates but also defended the trip to Saudi Arabia that had triggered his two-week suspension.
And for Paris Saint-Germain, that was seemingly enough. On Monday, he worked alone at the club's facilities. On Tuesday, he figures to be in team training. Less than a week after intentionally ignoring a club mandate, Messi is back.
His early return is yet another headline-grabbing moment in a chaotic season for the Parisians. It stands as an entirely predictable yet simultaneously disappointing move that shows, once again, just how badly the club has lost control of its players, and brand as a whole.
This suspension was supposed to show that PSG can put their foot down. Instead, it has only amplified how powerless they are.
GettyWhat they promised
This is, perhaps, all a bit unfair on PSG. It was never going to be easy to suspend Messi. Benching him, in fact, is near impossible. Messi is bigger than the club. He gets fans into Parc des Princes and followers on social media.
It's not exactly a new concept for PSG, either. Kylian Mbappe proved that he, too, has immense influence by leading a campaign for a season ticket renewal video — before ensuring it was taken down thanks to four lines of text put on an Instagram story.
Only with Messi, it's harder to control. Mbappe is likely to be around for at least one more year. He is a local product, one of the club's captains, and has the shield of a contract that isn't going to expire this summer. He has the adulation of PSG fans — regardless of his antics.
Messi hasn't taken to Paris in the same way. There is a prevailing sense that he is a mercenary who never wanted to leave his first love Barcelona — and will likely return if it's indeed possible. Messi is a World Cup and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner first. Playing for PSG is almost a side hustle.
And PSG can't merely accept that. Clubs are supposed to try to feign some kind of control over their superstars. The Parisians, by signing Messi, advertising him and selling millions of his shirts, take on that responsibility. They own Messi as a player, commodity and marketing tool.
But that mass appeal, the clicks and kits that his move to Paris brought in, was perhaps always going to be slightly at odds with his actions on the pitch. This week, PSG, despite promising otherwise, have succumbed to the marketing appeal.
AdvertisementGettyWhat they've done
And there's no real reason to bring Messi back now. PSG have had Ligue 1 sewn up for a few weeks now — admittedly, with Messi playing his part to secure the title. This should be the time to put in a few solid performances as the league comes to a close. In an ideal world, manager Christophe Galtier would be handing minutes to youngsters Warre Zaire-Emery and El-Chadaille Bitshiabu.
There are some players who are in the mix for new contracts — Sergio Ramos, for example — who would like to be on the pitch. But at this point, PSG should have made their decisions based on a body of work.
That's made even more clear with a look at PSG's fixture list. The Parisians have to play Ajaccio, Auxerre, Strasbourg and Clermont Foot to close out the campaign. All four sides are in the bottom half of the table. On sporting merit, then, it's better for PSG, and perhaps Messi himself, for the club to keep their Argentine out of the picture.
GettyAll a show
And they have tried. PSG were in a position where they needed to make an example of someone. The Ligue 1 leaders have endured a miserable 2023, falling short in the Champions League and Coupe de France, while also stumbling over the line to win the league title.
The team has lacked bite and aggression. Whether it was Messi or any other member of the squad who had jetted off when they were meant to be in training, the Parisians were obligated to punish such actions in a serious manner.
This was all taken very seriously, too. Messi was banned unceremoniously by the club without further comment. Christophe Galtier offered no insight when asked about it at a press conference last Thursday. The wider world was told that Messi would not be allowed to play, train or even step foot on club property. We were to believe that Messi was, effectively, sitting on his sofa, rueing his missed opportunity.
Then on Monday, a picture appeared of him at training, clad in full PSG gear. The club themselves have not commented, but it is clear that Messi is back. All signs point towards him playing on Sunday.
And perhaps he was always going to. Indeed, if his antics had happened before a Champions League clash or title decider, his flight to collect hundreds of millions would perhaps be met with a disapproving look, or maybe even a fine. Momentarily, though, PSG hinted that they had finally done something concrete. Then, very suddenly, they admitted their act was up.
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Getty ImagesFan appeasement?
And the fans had their role to play here, too. Messi's trip triggered a wave of protests from PSG ultras. A group gathered in front of the club headquarters in Paris in protest. They called for Messi's exit using some rather colourful language, politely encouraged Neymar to leave the club, and also took aim at chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Tensions have been bubbling for some time within Parc des Princes. Fans have booed and jeered Messi since February, while Neymar has not been without criticism either. The source of most of their protestations has stemmed from the lack of integrity of the club, and its inability to quell the gripes of frustrated superstars.
Apparently appeasing Messi doesn't make things any easier. If anything, this will only further antagonises a disillusioned fan base. PSG took a surprise step by canceling half of their ultras' tickets for the Parisians clash with Troyes last weekend. This already irritated group does not need further reason to be angry with their club.
There is, indeed, something to be said for limiting the impact of the supposedly damning protests before they actually happen. But giving the angry group six days to fine-tune how they react to this latest decision will likely do little to quieten their complaints.