PSG holds full training session ahead of Ligue 1 opener at Rennes. Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye train despite Liverpool rumours.
At the Campus PSG for a final late-morning training session, Paris Saint-Germain travels to Rennes on Sunday to launch its Ligue 1 campaign. Few absences are expected.
Saturday, Aug. 22, with training scheduled at the Campus. On the eve of its Ligue 1 opener, at Rennes on Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain held a late-morning session at its Poissy camp. Under the sun, but not in crushing heat, 26 players were at Luis Enrique’s disposal. Three goalkeepers- Matvey Safonov, Lucas Chevalier and Alessandro Longoni- quickly moved to an adjacent field for a specific session. Then, 23 outfield players.
It is fairly rare for so many PSG players to be at training. But this Saturday, there were no absences to note, and the summer signings were indeed there. Mika Godts, the latest to be made official, was spotted during the first 15 minutes of the open session with the media.
Alongside him were Nuno Mendes, who will be suspended tomorrow, and Joao Neves, who was absent from the squad last week at Lens, both of whom were present for the session. The Portuguese fullback will not travel to Rennes. For the midfielder, Luis Enrique will decide. On the training field, Neves did not appear hampered.
For this session, which followed video work in a meeting room, Luis Enrique could also count on his wingers Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye. Reportedly on their way out and heading to Liverpool, the two PSG players took part in the warm-up rondo and, apparently, in the full session as these lines are being written.
Will they be in the squad tomorrow, though? The Spaniard could decide. During the Trophée des Champions last Sunday, Barcola and Mbaye were indeed in the squad but did not appear on the team sheet, as a reminder. LFP rules required each team to register “only” 20 players, so the two forwards had settled into the stands but had made the trip to Bollaert.
A week later, PSG travels to Rennes for the first matchday of Ligue 1. A reversed fixture, since the Parc des Princes pitch is unplayable after being replaced this summer. A midweek decision that caused numerous changes. In any case, the Campus turf is in acceptable condition.
In other news, PSG’s surplus squad is nearly empty, as only Renato Sanches remains affected. Young fullback Yoram Zague is on the verge of leaving for Cyprus.
According to Le Parisien, Zague will be loaned to Pafos with a purchase option. There, he would reunite with David Luiz, among others, but he could return to Paris in a year, as he is under contract through June 2028.
