Lionel Messi dealt with whistles from some supporters as the Argentine returned to Paris Saint-Germain’s starting 11 in the 5-0 win over AC Ajaccio on Saturday night at the Parc des Princes.
PSG midfielder Renato Sanches spoke about the situation postgame with reporters. The 25-year-old noted that it was a challenging situation for the veteran forward, despite manager Christophe Galtier praising his star player on handling the incident.
“Yes, I think it’s a bit tricky for everyone and especially for Lionel because no player appreciates this kind of moment,” Sanches told reporters (h/t Paris Fans).
“But it is a situation that we cannot control. It’s a bit difficult for him. But it is not for me to talk about this situation. If he should stay at PSG? Ask him.”
Messi was initially suspended for two weeks after an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner missed last weekend’s 3-1 win over Troyes but returned the training on Monday after issuing a public apology.
Although the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner did apologize, some supporters likely thought they had to show their displeasure for the conduct of the former Barcelona player.
There are only a few games until the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season concludes and the discussion over the future of Messi begins to heat up even more.
