Performant en sélection et remplaçant en club : Le PSG face au dilemme Ibrahim Mbaye
Long considered one of the revelations of the early season at Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahim Mbaye is now going through a more difficult period. At just 18 years old, the Senegalese striker has seen his playing time drop drastically, at the very moment he is shining for his national team.
After a convincing autumn, during which he established himself as a credible alternative in PSG's rotation, the Senegalese prodigy seems to have lost ground. The statistics clearly illustrate this decline: of his 993 minutes played this season, more than 80% were accumulated between August and December. During this period, he had a string of starts and impressed, notably against Auxerre, Strasbourg, Le Havre, Metz, and also during a notable away match in Barcelona in the Champions League.
But since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which Senegal won, the momentum has reversed. The Senegalese international has played only 187 minutes, including a mere 14 minutes in his last appearances in March. Worse still, he remained on the bench for several important matches, notably against Chelsea and Monaco, a sign of his demotion in the attacking hierarchy.
This situation is largely explained by the intense competition within Luis Enrique's squad. The return of key players like Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, coupled with the rise of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola, has significantly reduced opportunities for the young Lion. In a system based on mobility and experience, Mbaye is still struggling to establish himself permanently.
However, in the Lions' friendly matches in March, the young winger distinguished himself with an assist against Peru (2-0) and a goal against Gambia (3-1).
Despite this, his coach remains measured: he points out that some players can sometimes be more comfortable in the national team than at club level, while reaffirming his confidence in the Senegalese player's potential.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Mbaye's situation is starting to raise questions. Under contract with PSG until 2028, the player remains highly sought after, particularly in England. Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, are closely monitoring his progress.
The Parisian club thus finds itself facing a strategic choice: continue to gradually support its young talent by offering him more playing time, or consider a controlled departure to enhance his potential, possibly with a buy-back clause.
One thing is certain: at an age when everything can change very quickly, the next few weeks will be crucial for Ibrahim Mbaye. Between patience and ambition, his future at PSG hangs in the balance.
Commentaires (5)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.