Terrible news for Paris Saint Germain

1 year ago

According to Le Parisien, Paris Saint-Germain full-back Nuno Mendes is set for an eight-week absence on the touchline after being withdrawn from Portugal’s World Cup squad due to a muscle tear in his thigh. Officially, the injury should keep him out until Paris Saint-Germain play Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League.

He is currently being treated with the Portuguese national team before being taken to a Qatari hospital for further treatment. Last night Le Parisien reported that Mendes would be out for the rest of the World Cup with Portugal, after suffering what we now know is a full muscle tear during Portugal’s clash with Uruguay – it was first thought as a an aggravation of his previous knock with PSG that almost made him a doubt for the World Cup in the first instance which left the defender out of action for three weeks.

Coming through Sporting CP’s youth academy, he made his first-team debut in 2020, and in the following year, he won a double of the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga, while being named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year. In August 2021, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a one-year loan deal, winning the Ligue 1 title and joining the club permanently for €38 million.

Mendes is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various levels. He made his full debut in 2021, and was chosen in the squads for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. On 31 August 2021, Mendes joined Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

He made his Ligue 1 debut for the club on 11 September, coming on as a 85th-minute substitute in a 4–0 defeat of Clermont.[16] He appeared in his first game in the UEFA Champions League four days later, replacing Abdou Diallo 75 minutes into a 1–1 draw away to Club Brugge in the group stage; he had an instant impact on the pitch, notably making a “brilliant” run to set up a shooting opportunity for Lionel Messi at the 77th minute. He made his first start later that month, in a 2–1 win over Lyon.

Mendes helped PSG win their record-tying 10th national championship by making 27 appearances (18 starts), and later was nominated to the Young Player of the Year and named to the Team of the Year alongside two of his teammates. On 31 May 2022, his buyout clause of €38 million was triggered and he signed a permanent four-year contract.