The endless TV series Kylian Mbappé has pushed the recruits registered by Paris Saint-Germain in recent days to the background. After a very disappointing season, especially in the Champions League, the Parisian administration decided to quickly expand its workforce with five arrivals in mid-July. The Parisian leaders, led by Louis Campos, did this especially well Strengthening the defense with the arrival of Lucas Hernandez, the 2018 world champion with the Blues from Bayern Munich, and the Slovakian Milan Skriniar, who passed through Inter Milan.. Spanish attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, who spent a long time at Real Madrid, also signed with the capital club.
Two more players, almost unknown to the general public, arrived in Paris: Uruguayan defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte and South Korean attacking midfielder Lee Kang-in. What allows Paris Saint-Germain to stick around last shocking season?
Hernandez and Skriniar, two great defenders with a disturbing physique
It’s simple to say that the arrival of Lucas Hernandez and Milan Skriniar together is causing bewilderment among PSG followers. If they are both central defenders at the international level, they have accumulated major physical problems for several months. Lucas Hernandezwho was bought for about 40 million euros from Bayern Munich one year after the end of his contract, has played only 107 matches for the German team, less than … Neymar and Marco Verratti at Paris Saint-Germain. The 2018 world champion has not played since last December, and his horrific cruciate ligament injury in his right kneeHe struggled at the start of the first match of the 2022 World Cup against Australia. The 27-year-old defender, capable of playing on the left flank, also faced the hostility of the Parisian fans, who were touched by the arrival of a player who never hid his love for OM.
condition Milan Skriniar Not much more reassuring than that. The Slovakian, who arrived at Paris Saint-Germain, was one of the best central defenders in Italy in recent seasons with Inter Milan, before he suffered serious injuries in recent months. Skriniar, who suffered a lower back injury in February, played only ten minutes in March Before undergoing surgery in mid-April. So the 28-year-old defender from the stands witnessed the brilliant run of Inter, who were defeated by Manchester City in the Champions League final. In any case, the battle for the two starting spots is expected to be intense between Skriniar, Hernandez, Markinhos and Kimpembe, who will return from injury in the fall.
Asensio, the slow prodigy to confirm
For many football fans, the name Marco Asensio rhymes with disappointed hopes. But the Spanish attacking midfielder came out of two seasons as a luxury substitute at Real Madrid with 9 goals and 6 assists in La Liga and 3 goals in the Champions League last season. Asensio even started for the Spanish national team in the last World Cup under Luis Enrique, the new PSG coach. He also achieved an astounding record with Real Madrid, with a total of 17 trophies, including three Champions Leagues. but Asensio, who was promised a bright future at the start of his career, never proved himself to be an indisputable player at Real Madrid. Will he be able to do it at PSG, where competition in attack could allow him to find a place (and be subject to more or less glamorous newcomers)? At 27, he really has no time to lose.
Ugarte and Lee, the two surprises are in the middle
Since the departure of Thiago Motta in 2018, PSG has been desperately searching for the iconic ‘keeper’, that defensive midfielder capable of recovering balls and returning them to his teammates. Parisian leaders have set their sights this year Defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte, bought the 22-year-old Uruguay for more than 60 million euros from Sporting Portugal. According to many media outlets, PSG has been in competition with Chelsea on this issue. Ugarte forged a reputation in Portugal, where he played 85 matches (one goal) in two seasons, and secured the championship title in 2022. However, he remained on the bench during the Qatar World Cup, as Uruguay was knocked out in the group stage. Will the suit be too heavy to wear?
Almost no one expected his arrival Attacking midfielder from South Korea Lee Kang InHe was bought for just over €20m from Spanish club Mallorca, according to several media outlets. He trained in Valencia in Spain, where he arrived in 2011, before joining RDC Mallorca in 2021. The 22-year-old left winger, who scored 6 goals and provided 5 assists last season in La Liga, will have to Fighting to find a place in the Parisian attack.
