With the winter transfer window just around the corner, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Luis Enrique has issued a strong message ahead of the clash against Olympique Lyon.
Few messages are clearer than a player being left out of the squad for ‘unknown reasons.’ When a manager omits a player without any medical justification, it is a significant blow. In football terms, it translates to ‘I don’t count on you at all.’ This is the message Luis Enrique has communicated to two of his players ahead of the crucial Ligue 1 matchup against Olympique Lyon on Sunday night (20:45 CET).
In the summer of 2023, PSG made a bold move by appointing the Asturian coach. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi endeavored to provide him with as many tools as possible during the transfer window to ensure success in domestic competitions and aspirations in Europe. Nearly 350 million euros were spent over the summer, with Randal Kolo Muani (€95 million), Gonçalo Ramos (€65 million), and Manuel Ugarte (€60 million) being the most expensive acquisitions.
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However, things have not gone as hoped. Although the team reached the Champions League semifinals, only to fall short against Borussia Dortmund, the performance levels of Kolo Muani and Ramos are being heavily scrutinized at the club, with the latter still in search of continuity. Meanwhile, Ugarte is now a Manchester United player.
PSG is known for making headlines in every transfer market, but for new stars to arrive, others must depart from the Parc des Princes. Luis Enrique has provided hints that only a blind person wouldn’t recognize. The Asturian manager has excluded Randal Kolo Muani and Milan Skriniar from the squad citing a “technical decision.” In football lingo, this means PSG is keen to offload them this winter, as explained by transfer market journalist Fabrizio Romano.
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The former Eintracht Frankfurt striker is far from the lethal forward he was in the Bundesliga. He was an exciting signing due to his experience in the league (he previously played for Nantes) and his outstanding qualities: pace, power, and goal-scoring ability. The reality, however, is quite different, as he has failed to become an undisputed starter, with his statistics not befitting a player valued at almost €100 million. Last season, he netted six goals in 26 Ligue 1 matches, while this term he has scored just two goals in ten league appearances.
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As for the ex-Inter Milan defender, who arrived as a free agent but earns a whopping €12 million gross per season, he has frequently found himself on the Parisian bench. He hasn’t played a single minute in the last three matches, and although his contract runs until 2028, PSG attempted to find him a new destination last summer. They considered a move to Turkey, hoping to replicate the transaction they sealed with Galatasaray for Mauro Icardi, but Skriniar’s high wages derailed any potential deal.
Far from thriving at the Parc des Princes, both Kolo Muani and Skriniar are set to be remembered in French football as costly signings for a PSG that is facing more struggle than expected in the Champions League this season. Will they manage to offload them this winter?
