Lionel Messi could be fined for Saudi Arabia trip

There's yet another sign that the relationship between international superstar Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain has, at the very least, seen better days. 

ESPN's Julien Laurens reported Tuesday afternoon that Paris Saint-Germain are considering fining Messi for what it views to be an unauthorized midweek trip to Saudi Arabia. 

Sources told Laurens that PSG manager Christophe Galtier and sporting director Luis Campos gave Messi permission to travel for duties related to serving as a Saudi ambassador but only if the French giants defeated Lorient on Sunday or played to a draw. Lorient ultimately stunned PSG 3-1, but Laurens reports that Messi "flew to Saudi Arabia without asking again for permission" and missed club training on Monday. 

"Sources told ESPN the situation created tensions within the dressing room, with some players unhappy with the incident," Laurens added. However, the fact that Messi's two-year contract which he signed in the summer of 2021 is set to expire at the end of the season complicates how the club can react to his temporary absence. 

It was reported in early April that Messi is unlikely to remain with PSG beyond the end of the campaign. A subsequent story said that there was an "increasing likelihood" that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will reject an opportunity to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami and will instead head to Saudi Arabia to sign with Al-Hilal, rivals of Al-Nassr. 

Al-Nassr currently feature Cristiano Ronaldo after Ronaldo joined that club in late December. Ronaldo is reportedly making around $213M per year, including commercial and sponsorship deals, while in the Saudi Professional League. Messi allegedly could receive a "salary worth more than €400M ($438M) per year" in Saudi Arabia.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague claimed shortly after those reports emerged that Messi had not made any final decision about his playing future, and Laurens indicated that's still the case. With that said, Messi's latest actions suggest he may already have one foot out the door as it pertains to his PSG tenure.