In what seems to be a testament to ongoing transfer speculations, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made the unexpected decision to leave star players Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Marco Verratti out of their lineup for the season's kick-off match against Lorient.
Mbappe, amidst a tense contract situation and having been excluded from PSG's pre-season tour to Asia, had reportedly been training separately from the main squad throughout the week. The move fuels further rumors surrounding his potential departure from the defending champions.
Adding to the intrigue, Neymar, PSG's Brazilian ace, missed the group training on Friday, officially due to a viral infection. However, swirling speculations suggest that he might be on the brink of leaving the French capital before the transfer window shuts.
Verratti, a stalwart in the PSG midfield for over a decade, is currently in the limelight with potential links to a lucrative transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Luis Enrique, PSG's newly-appointed head coach, after reportedly holding conversations with both Neymar and Verratti, hinted at his upcoming strategic decisions, saying, "my decisions will clearly express my views.” This statement has further fueled speculations that the two might not feature prominently in PSG's plans for this season.
However, it's not all about departures. PSG enthusiasts might witness the debut of newly-acquired talents: central defender Milan Skriniar, attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, and forward Goncalo Ramos in the match. Moreover, while PSG recently clinched a deal with Barcelona's Ousmane Dembélé for an impressive 50.4 million euros, the winger hasn't been listed for the opener against Lorient.