In a disappointing turn of events for PSG, their highly anticipated signing, Gabriel Moscardo, will face a setback as he undergoes foot surgery, ruling him out of football for the next three months. Although the young Brazilian midfielder had arrived in the French capital to finalize the deal with PSG, the surgery will delay his debut.
The timing couldn't be worse for PSG and their coach, Luis Enrique. With a comfortable lead in Ligue 1 and a crucial Champions League Round of 16 match against Real Sociedad approaching, Enrique had hoped to strengthen the defensive midfield position by securing Moscardo's services this January. However, this setback means they will have to wait.
Moscardo himself took to social media to announce the need for foot surgery before his contract with PSG was formalized. Despite the surgery, L'Équipe clarifies that the signing is not in danger.
In his statement, Moscardo explained that the operation is necessary on his left foot and will keep him away from the playing fields for the next three months. His optimistic tone suggested that he sees this setback as an opportunity to come back stronger and continue pursuing his dream and career with PSG.
Although PSG's signing of Moscardo is not threatened by the surgery, it does put a dent in their plans for reinforcements during the winter transfer market. The 18-year-old midfielder was expected to fill the defensive midfield void left by Sergio Busquets' departure and Oriol Romeu's unsuccessful return to Barcelona.
Interestingly, Barcelona had also targeted Moscardo as a solution to their defensive midfield position. Through Deco's contacts, Barcelona initiated negotiations with Corinthians but failed to finalize a deal this winter due to financial constraints and limitations imposed by financial fair play regulations. Barcelona's inaction, along with Chelsea's two offers for the player, led to PSG seizing the opportunity to secure a player they believe has the potential to become a key figure in Europe in the near future.
While PSG remains optimistic about Moscardo's future prospects, the setback serves as a reminder that even the best-laid plans can be disrupted. Time will tell if Moscardo can make a successful recovery and fulfill his potential with PSG, bringing strength to their midfield in the seasons to come.