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.