Thierry Henry Reveals How PSG’s Pride Was Damaged by Lionel Messi’s Saudi Trip

• Thierry Henry believes Lionel Messi’s Saudi Arabia trip has damaged Paris Saint-Germain’s pride
• Messi caused a stir in the French capital when he made an unsanctioned and sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia
• The 35-year-old has apologised to the French club after he was suspended for two weeks

Thierry Henry has suggested, Lionel Messi’s, decision to visit Saudi Arabia may have hurt the pride of Paris Saint-Germain’s owners, after the Parisians fined the Argentine.

Messi was suspended by PSG and fined two weeks’ wages after he took an unsanctioned trip to the Middle East without the approval of manager Christophe Galtier.

According to Goal, Henry has now revealed that Messi’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia, a country at loggerheads with Qatar, where PSG's owners are from must have hurt the club's ego.

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"They hit a shot, maybe because he's not going to stay. Or did the destination he went to affect their pride a little? But there were much more serious things that happened at PSG. Was Messi right? No, you don't miss a practice."

Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been at loggerheads since the beginning of the Arab Spring, which left a power vacuum both states sought to fill. Qatar supported the revolutionary wave and Saudi Arabia opposed it.

PSG responds to Messi’s apology

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi was excluded from Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 clash against Troyes this weekend despite apologising for his unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia, Daily Mirror reports.

Kylian Mbappe, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz all scored for the Parisians who ran out 3-1 winners against Troyes to tighten their grip on the Ligue 1 title this season.

PSG have now garnered 78 points from 34 matches played thus far and are six points clear of second place who have 72 points from same number of matches played this season.

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Messi breaks silence after being suspended

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has issued an apology to his club teammates after he was suspended for missing training.

The Parisiens punished the 2022 World Cup winner after travelling to Saudi Arabia in a sponsored visit.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is not expected to feature in the games against Troyes and Ajaccio.