Six days after being suspended for travelling to Saudi Arabia without permission, Lionel Messi, the World Cup-winning captain of Argentina, resumed training with Paris Saint-Germain on Monday.
“Leo Messi returns to training Monday morning,” the team tweeted along with a picture of the 35-year-old in action.
He is likely to play in PSG’s home game against relegation-threatened Ajaccio on Saturday as a result of his return.
With four games left, PSG has a six-point advantage over Lens in the race to retain their Ligue 1 championship.
The Qatar-owned club suspended him after he skipped training last Monday.
Instead, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner left without PSG’s consent to meet obligations under a deal with Saudi Arabia’s tourism board.
Messi later offered an apology to his 458 million Instagram followers in a video.
“I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia having cancelled it previously. This time I couldn’t cancel it. I am sorry for what I did and I wait to see what the club decides to do.”
Messi’s likelihood of staying at PSG after this season, when his two-year contract with the team expires, has grown less likely due to the scandal.
