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Football

13th Jul 2022

PSG leave nine ‘undesirable’ stars at home for pre-season tour of Japan

Daniel Brown

The PSG exodus begins…

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly chose to leave nine ‘undesirable’ stars at home for their upcoming pre-season tour of Japan.

The Ligue 1 champions will face off against Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka as part of their preparations for the 2022/23 campaign.

However, L’Equipe  have reported that a number of players are set to be excluded from the travelling party. Georginio Wijnaldum, Mauro Icardi, Layvin Kurzawa, Julian Draxler, Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye, Junior Dina Ebimbe, Rafinha and Sergio Rico are all expected to remain in Paris.

The report adds that the nine players have all been put on the transfer list this summer as the Parisians look to refresh their squad following a disappointing campaign last season.

Ex-Premeir League duo not included in travelling party

Former Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum has endured a difficult spell at the Parc des Princes since his free transfer last summer, registering just three goals and three assists in 38 appearances.

And while ex-Manchester United man Herrera is reportedly happy in France – and featured regularly at the start of the season – he gradually fell out of favour towards the end of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Icardi, who scored just five goals in 30 appearances last season, has fallen behind Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the attacking pecking order and is said to be up for sale.

Former Everton and Aston Villa midfielder Gueye has just one year left on his current deal at the club, while Kurzawa has two years left on his contract.

Draxler has struggled for injuries and youngster Dina Ebimbe has rarely featured, while Rafinha and Sergio Rico have also seen limited game time.

PSG recently confirmed the appointment of Christophe Galtier as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor, with the new boss demanding that his player get on board with his ideas or ‘they will be set aside’.

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