. Paris, France
PSG to be without Messi, Neymar for Ligue 1 clash vs Strasbourg
Lionel Messi signed for PSG on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@djsnake)
- Coach Mauricio Pochettino has not selected players who returned late from the Euros or Copa America
- Messi played Neymar and Brazil in the Copa America final last month
- Pochettino said his coaching staff will take it “step by step” with the Argentine forward
Paris Saint-Germain will be without superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar for their Ligue 1 clash against Strasbourg on Saturday, the club has confirmed. For a second game of the season, coach Mauricio Pochettino has not selected any of the players who returned late to the club from Euro 2020 or Copa America action.
Messi played his former Barcelona teammate Neymar and Brazil in the Copa America final last month and went on to win his first major international trophy with Argentina. The 34-year-old signed for PSG on Tuesday, after Barca were unable to renew his contract because of financial issues.
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Messi only started training with his new teammates from Thursday.
Pochettino said his coaching staff will take it “step by step” with the Argentine forward so that he “is in the best possible condition when he starts”. “It was a great opportunity to see him in action,” the former Tottenham Hotspur coach said in his final press conference ahead of the season opener.
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Meanwhile, Brazil defender Marquinhos, Argentina internationals Angel di Maria and Leandro Parades, Italians Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marco Veratti have also not been included in the squad.
The South Americans were involved in the Copa America final on July 10, while the Italians played the Euro 2020 final against England the next day. They returned to the club’s training centre on August 6 and are continuing their physical preparations.
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Another big summer signing Sergio Ramos is also injured and not expected to feature untol the international break until early September.
PSG will host a gala event ahead of their first home league game of the season, when the Parc des Princes will be full for the first time in over 17 months, and Messi will be the star of the evening. All the summer signings will be unveiled together to the fans for the first time.