Paris Saint-Germain will not immediately have its full squad available. After a particularly long World Cup campaign for many of its players, the French club has decided to stagger their returns in order to protect its internationals.
The first group is due back at the PSG Campus on Monday, July 27. Matvey Safonov, Lucas Chevalier, Dro, Senny Mayulu, Illia Zabarnyi, Lucas Beraldo and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among those expected to resume training first.
A staggered return after the World Cup
There will be no single return date for the World Cup players. PSG have decided to give each player four weeks of holiday from the day their national team was eliminated, meaning returns will be spread throughout the first half of August. Willian Pacho and Ibrahim Mbaye are expected back in early August, while Vitinha, João Neves and Marquinhos could also return in time to face Lens in the Trophée des Champions on August 16, depending on their fitness and training workload.
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Achraf Hakimi faces a much tighter schedule, while Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Lucas Digne and Fabian Ruiz could all miss the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa on August 12. Their involvement against Lens four days later is also highly uncertain unless they agree to shorten their holidays, something the PSG staff are unlikely to demand after such an exhausting season.
Nuno Mendes will require even greater caution after suffering an injury in the round of 16 against Spain. Luis Enrique could therefore begin the season with a heavily reshuffled squad, as late returns, a lack of match fitness and physical concerns may force PSG to contest their first two trophies without several key players.
