Mascherano, Rivaldo’s different take on Messi-PSG conflict

Former Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said that Lionel Messi "cannot be criticized" on professionalism grounds and that the PSG supporters "will regret in 10 years" for the treatment of the Argentine playmaker at the Parisian club, while former Brazil playmaker Rivaldo was "saddened" to see Messi's attitude towards his current club.

"It's a shame not to realize the type of player they were lucky enough to have in their team," Mascherano told D Sports radio.

"I think that ten years ago, no Parisian supporter would have imagined having in their team the best player in history. And instead of liking him, they spent these two years criticizing him.

"In 10 years, they will regret it. Any team in the world would give anything to have it for five minutes. If there is one thing where Leo cannot be criticized, it is his professionalism," added the former Barcelona and Liverpool star. 

Messi, who apologized to the club and its supporters on Friday through his social media accounts, was suspended for two weeks by the Qatar-owned club due to the Argentine's unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia that led to him missing PSG's training on Monday.

"I honestly thought we were going to have the day off after the match [against Lorient in Ligue 1 which PSG lost 3-1] as had happened in the previous weeks," Messi had said.

"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."

Meanwhile, Rivaldo said Messi could have handled things better, "without causing this internal problem" with PSG.  

"It saddened me a little to see Lionel Messi adopt this kind of attitude, disrespectful towards his current club, something unusual in his career, which has always been marked by a clean sheet when it comes to discipline," Rivaldo told Spanish media outlet AS.

"He could certainly have done otherwise. There were other alternatives: Talk to the club, wait for the Saudi leaders to come to Paris, or even wait until the end of the season to find an agreement with PSG without causing this internal problem," added the former Barcelona number 10. 

PSG currently lead the Ligue 1 table by five points. With five games remaining with Messi suspended for two matches and Neymar out with injury, the onus falls on the likes of Kylian Mbappe to ensure PSG maintain their supremacy in the French league.