O French Championships starts next friday with the Paris Saint Germain again as heavy favorites for the title, despite losing Lionel Messi and being in the midst of doubts about Kylian Mbappé’s future at the club.
The Parisian team has won the last three editions of Ligue 1 and has only missed two titles in the last ten seasons. But this year, in addition to losing Messi, who is shining in the United States with Inter Miami, PSG could be without Mbappé, with whom the club has a strained relationship.
While the Spanish and world press follow the soap opera about the fate of the French striker, speculated in the Real MadridPSG are focused on their debut in Ligue 1, next Saturday, against Lorient.
The team will have coach Luis Enrique on the sidelines this season. He commanded the Spain already world Cup of 2022, in which the team fell in the round of 16.
Gonçalo Ramos at PSG
This week, PSG announced its big signing, the 22-year-old Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos, revelation in the World Cup in Qatar. he was in Benfica and arrives on loan until next season.
Ramos is the eighth addition to the Parisian side, following the arrivals of defenders Milan Skriniar and Lucas Hernández, midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Cher Ndour, forwards Marco Asensio and Lee Kang-in and goalkeeper Arnau Tenas.
👕 Try to win the autographed jersey of our new recruit, @Goncalo88Ramos !
To participate, it’s here! ⤵️
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 9, 2023
The Portuguese striker could supply the eventual departure of Mbappé, who maintains an arm wrestling with the club’s board.
“I can guarantee that we will work as a team,” promised Luis Enrique when he was unveiled as the new coach on 5 July.
The Spaniard said that his proposal would be “an attacking, offensive football that pleases the fans and gives results”.
A day earlier, Olympique de Marseille, PSG’s great rival, presented fellow Spaniard Marcelino García Toral as the new coach.
“We like an organized team. We believe that balance is the starting point for success, and that starts with order. We will try to have a dynamic, agile and attractive team. There is a common circumstance that makes us optimistic: our concept of football is what this huge crowd wants”, said Marcelino upon his arrival at Olympique.
Reinforcements arrive in Marseille
In addition to the Spanish coach, the team brought reinforcements such as the Senegalese striker Ismaila Sarr and the experienced Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with successful passages through Germany and England.
Also arriving, among others, midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi and Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi.
Despite everything indicating that PSG is the big favorite, Olympique promises to shorten the distance to the rival. Last season, the Marseille team was far from fighting for the title, in third place, 12 points behind the Parisians.
Olympique starts its journey in the French Championship on Saturday, at home, against Reims.
Already Lens, who was runner-up with a point behind PSG, is betting on the signing of young Colombian striker Oscar Cortés, just 19 years old. The club from the north of France will try to stay between the two giants of the country. The first appointment will be against Brest, on Sunday.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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