Marcus Rashford to PSG, Matheus Nunes, and PSG nightmare player dynamics – Issue #2
With all the European leagues returning back this weekend, the European footballing world is in full swing.
It's been a frenetic, widely entertaining weekend of football as all the major leagues return to full succession, and with the weeks dwindling down closer to the transfer deadline day, it's getting harder and harder to separate the concrete rumours from the “kitchen cupboard” ones. So let's have a look:
Matheus Nunes — Sporting’s new midfield gem
“I would say that Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in the world today.”
These were the words from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola when describing the performance he had watched from Sporting’s #8 in the centre of midfield in the Champions League. As you would expect, Pep was very complimentary of his opposition but he was extremely warming to the idea that Sporting had another undiscovered gem in Matheus Nunes.
Nunes that night had a flawless performance — asserted himself as a big game player and one for the biggest stages too, and Pep’s comments only heightened any potential hype that was coming the Portuguese international’s way. To many, Matheus Nunes wouldn't have been the main attraction or talking point in Portugal, with the likes of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz tearing up the league and catching the eyes of spectators up and down the country, and eventually earning moves to the North West of England, Liverpool.
But Matheus Nunes's talent deserves the plaudits it’s getting right now. He is a very promising and tactically well-versed midfielder and has some important technical and physical qualities that require a lot of improvement. Following the exit of João Palhinha to Fulham and Daniel Bragança’s long-term injury, he looks set to play a huge role in midfield for Sporting alongside Manuel Ugarte or Hidemasa Morita in Rúben Amorim’s double pivot this season — and he's shown that during the start of this season. But his form this season has only attracted more interest in the 23-year-old Portuguese international, from Manchester City to Liverpool to Wolves to Chelsea, with the former clubs expressing major interest in the recent weeks with possible departures and injuries limiting the options in midfield that Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp may have.
Any interest that may materialise in the upcoming weeks, will only intensify after the performance and eye-catching goal he scored on the weekend.
We know he’s a great carrier of the ball and can easily dribble past 2-3 players every time he runs forward. His best ability is to make quick turns as he receives the ball facing his own goalkeeper but the goal highlighted the moments of quality that Nunes is well capable of.
Matheus Nunes will have options if he wants to move this summer and he will have options in the future; his next club will be one of Europe’s elite and his talent will warrant that.
Marcus Rashford to PSG and why it makes sense
News broke from French football outlets late into the week, that PSG has the intention to sign Marcus Rashford this summer and with only a year left on his contract, with a year option that will almost certainly be triggered by Manchester United, a deal has been seen as feasible from the French side, with Rashford’s camp open to a move to the French capital; a deal that has been branded widely as a sensible move from all parties.
From Rashford’s side, a move away from Manchester United at the age of 24 wouldn't have been what he or football fans would've expected from a player who represents the good of the club — a young local lad breaking through the academy and living his boyhood dream playing for his boyhood club. But, heading into the 2020/21 season, he was expected to go on and cement himself as Man United’s main man in attack. Two years later and he seems to have moved back from the position he’d built up in 2019/20. And after his penalty miss in the Euros final for England and shoulder surgery that followed that which led to Rashford missing the start to last season, and ultimately culminating towards his woeful season; Rashford has been mentally and physically at his lowest.
All the above-mentioned aspects of Rashford’s last few years have led to him losing a lot of the backing and support he had from the United fanbase, losing his place in the England squad, and not even knowing where his next goal is going to come from — making a change in the scenery all that more enticing.
Manchester United’s point of view has always been the same; he's not for sale. But all the signs indicate that it might be time to call an end to Rashford’s time at United. The player looks mentally and physically drained, as touched about a few times.
Rashford is in a position at United, where the perception of him within the fanbase and the club itself is at a point where he's viewed completely differently. United view Rashford as a footballer with huge potential to do great things on the pitch but they see him as a brand first, a very respectable and big brand — Rahsfrod’s off-the-field heroics have been a PR boost for United and there is no hiding that. Whereas in the fanbase, the fans don't have a perception that values the off-field activities over what he does on the pitch and his underwhelming performances has had his image as a once-touted superstar diminishing.
Marcus Rashford going to PSG, as regards the player, could allow the English forward to get his career back on the correct track. PSG as a side has arguably the best array of ball progressors and creators in Europe. Though that means they often struggle with too many players showing for the ball to feet, having an off-ball menace in Rashford will help balance the attack.
Manchester United have reinstated their reluctance in wanting to let Rashford go, and have reiterated their stance that they will offer the Manchester-born a contract extension before his old deal runs out to highlight their trust in him that he will come good, consistently. But if it gets to a point where Rahsford can't see himself gaining a starting position in the United team, a move away will only make sense, and considering the mental issues that he has faced, a move abroad would suit him from a mental standpoint. PSG have held a long interest in Rashford and if they're serious about their new long-term plan — recruiting smart, young, and shrewd — then a move for Rashford will show that.
From the PSG end, moving for Marcus Rahsford isn't an immediate need with the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Lionel Messi all staying at the club for at least this season, but the new PSG under Christophe Galtier and Luís Campos isn't just looking at the short to medium but they are prioritising the future; signing 24-year-old Marcus Rashford would emphasis this policy.
With the sale of academy by-product Arnaud Kalimuendo and the wanted removal of Mauro Icardi from the first team, an attacking signing seems like the subsequent logical move. Despite the signing of highly-rated striker Hugo Ekitiké, the higher authorities at the French club still believe they need a “game-changer” to add to their depth with experience in the Champions League and Marcus Rahsford would help with posing a huge threat to elite-level opposition. And Neymar’s injury record, Messi’s inability to start 50, 60 games a season nowadays and the aforementioned Ekitiké lack of experience — Rashford will play games and a lot of them. Talking about PSG…
Kylian Mbappé and Neymar and the potential player dynamics Christophe Galtier will face
Saturday night saw the return of Kylian Mbappé back into starting XI for his first competitive game of the season, and in true PSG and Mbappé fashion — the French club won and the French forward scored but for a game that seemed on cruise control for Christophe Galtier’s side, but the storyline that came out of the game was what is potentially boiling over off the pitch.
It was claimed over the weekend by many credible reports that Kylian Mbappé and Neymar's relationship is at an all-time low after Neymar found out that Mbappé was asking the board behind closed doors to execute a sale for the Brazilian this summer, and has obviously created a huge problem. During the match on Saturday, PSG was given an early opportunity to open up the scoring from 12 yards out, Mbappé took responsibility to take the penalty and it was saved. He had another chance to spare his blushes but Neymar with the ball already in his hands, wasn't having any of it and refused to give the penalty to the Frenchmen, tucked away the penalty and it was a screwed face Mbappé was clearly unhappy about the decision and it was evident throughout the rest of the game, no more than when he gave up midway on a PSG counter attack because he didn't receive the ball earlier from Vitinha — it was like watching a moody teenager who didn't get the game they wanted for Christmas because their birthday is coming up.
Thread on the history of Kylian Mbappé and Neymar
Neymar’s performances in the early start to the season have been nothing short of phenomenal and this has clearly alerted the PSG board that a sale for him wouldn't be the smartest acquisition to make. And with a World Cup coming up and the PSG owners having a big role in the tournament, it only makes sense that they have the best players in the world playing well for the club they own before they jet off to a tournament to continue those levels at a tournament the owners also play a part in.
It's clear that Mbappé’s extension comes with promises and to a certain extent power but a dynamic like this at a club like PSG isn't the way forward for a club looking to change its image across the world stage.
The Parisian club has looked phenomenal so far and an issue like this can be a real destabilizer to whatever promising thing they can potentially do this season. This is the time for Galtier and Campos to stamp their authority on this club and stop whatever potential issues may arise within the player groups and subgroups.
For such an ego-driven club, it's time that egos were put aside for the betterment of the club.