PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain fans will have to wait a little longer before seeing Lionel Messi make his debut after coach Mauricio Pochettino left both the former Barcelona man and Neymar out of his squad for Friday’s Ligue 1 game away at Brest.
Both Messi and Neymar started pre-season training late after an extended break following the Copa America—Messi’s Argentina beat Neymar’s Brazil 1-0 in the final in Rio de Janeiro on July 11.
Angel di Maria, who scored Argentina’s winning goal in that final, was in the squad announced on Friday morning as PSG look to make it three wins from three at the start of the French season.
Gianluigi Donnarumma also appeared in the squad for the first time since moving to Paris from AC Milan after starring for Italy at Euro 2020, but fellow new signing Sergio Ramos is not yet fit to make his debut.
Messi could make his PSG debut in next weekend’s game away at Reims before the September international break, when he is likely to be involved as Argentina play a triple-header of World Cup qualifiers away to Venezuela and Brazil and at home to Bolivia.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are not hiding their desire to sign Mbappe but Pochettino insists he can’t imagine the France superstar playing for another club this season.
Mbappe is out of contract next June and his future has dominated headlines in France and in Spain since Messi’s shock move from Barcelona to Paris last week.
In Madrid they believe Mbappe does not want to share more of the limelight with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner. “Madrid are not giving up,” said the cover of sports daily AS on Thursday.
PSG, meanwhile, want to keep the 22-year-old to complete a dream front line with Messi and Neymar.
Whether Real make their move before the August 31 transfer deadline remains to be seen, but Mbappe is in no rush to extend his contract at the Parc des Princes.
Nevertheless, while Neymar and Messi build up their fitness following extended summer breaks, Mbappe has played a starring role for his club at the beginning of the campaign.
He set up the decisive goal as PSG won 2-1 at Troyes on the opening weekend and then created three goals as Pochettino’s team beat Strasbourg 4-2 last Saturday.
“Kylian seems in good shape, he is motivated and working very hard to have a good season. That is what we are all thinking about,” Pochettino told reporters on Thursday ahead of PSG’s trip to Brittany to play Brest on Friday.
“Kylian is our player and I don’t see him being anywhere else this season.”
The speculation about his future led to Mbappe being jeered by some PSG supporters before the Strasbourg game, but Pochettino insisted the France World Cup winner was taking it in his stride.
“Kylian is preparing for tomorrow’s game. The only conversations I have with Kylian are about football,” the Argentine added.
“He has a year left on his contract, if he doesn’t renew it. We are happy with him and from what I see he is happy with us too.”
