Why PSG Star Desire Doue's Future Does Not Lie on the Wings

Back in the summer of 2024, PSG successfully fended off competitions from the likes of Bayern Munich to sign French youngster Desire Doue from fellow Ligue 1 side Rennes. 

It has been a very successful time in the capital for the 21-year old so far, winning the treble in his first season at the club, before a Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League double in his second campaign. 

Individually he has been pretty good too, scoring 30 goals and providing 24 assists in 110 games so far, with the minutes of those games totalling up to around 73.6 full 90's. So, with taken into context and consideration, it looks very good. 

However, truth be told, it does not feel like Doue's long term future should be where he has played the bulk of his games so far - on the right and left wing. 

Indeed not. The Frenchman has all the traits and characteristics of a central player. Owing to these abilities, he has played there at times during his career. At PSG, he has played a total of 25 games in midfield, more than 1/5th of his total games for the club. 

It is tricky because in the midfield you have Vitinha and Joao Neves, who are just too good to leave out. Fabian Ruiz is also very, very good, but not quite on the same level, is injury prone, and now into his 30's. So, long term, that left sided number eight role could belong to Doue. 

The caveat is that Luis Enrique will not be here forever, and another manager could play a whole different set up and formation. But there is no doubt that the youngster has the tools to play centrally. If another manager came in and played a 4231, he would perhaps be even more suited to the number ten position than the advanced eight role.

When maximising a player's potential, you want them to play in a role and position that showcases their abilities and hides their flaws. We know that Doue has the ball carrying and dribbling ability to play through the centre of the pitch. We also know that he is not the quickest player, and sometimes that lack of pace can be a hinderance. 

Let's take a look at the goals he scores as an example. Of the seven goals he scored in Ligue 1 last season, fifth were scored within the width of the posts, and one was not far off at all. Two of his goals were scored from the D on the edge of the box - an area he could get into more often if playing in a central role. 

The flipside to all of this is the defensive side of the game, you have to wonder: Can he track back? Can he make tackles and interceptions? Can he watch his man trying to make a late run into the box? 

Well, and it is only a small sample size, but Doue averaged just over two tackles per 90 in Ligue 1 last season. In just 15 or so full 90's, he made 32 tackles. Again, not the biggest sample size, but pretty good numbers. He also made 12 interceptions and 51 defensive contributions.

Interestingly, we saw Zinedine Zidane use Maghnes Akliouche as a number eight for France during the recent international break. Like with Doue, he is a winger perhaps not blessed with blistering pace, so profile wise it makes sense. It will be interesting to see if he also tries Doue in that role next month.