Back from Argentina on Wednesday after having obtained his negative test – he had contracted the Covid on Boxing Day – Lionel Messi found his way back to the Loges camp this Thursday. The day before, PSG had indicated about him that he would resume with the group “in the coming days”. There are thus two sessions – this Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. – for the Argentinian to refine his condition and thus be able to consider making the trip to Lyon for the match of my 20th day of Ligue 1 on Sunday (8.45 p.m.).
One thing is certain, Mauricio Pochettino will not take any risk with the seven-time Golden Ball which could have a busy schedule in the coming weeks with a possible return to Argentina for the international break (January 24 – February 2). He had already been cautious in the management of South Americans – Marquinhos, Paredes, Icardi, Di Maria – returned on Sunday and remained on the substitute bench during the round of 16 of the Coupe de France in Vannes (0-4), Monday.
If the presence of Lionel Messi at Groupama Stadium seems likely, however, this will not be the case for Angel Di Maria. The midfielder joined the list of players who tested positive at the start of 2022. Just like Julian Draxler. After Messi and Bernat, both now negative, but also Nathan Bitumazala, Sergio Rico, Danilo Pereira, Gianluigi Donnarumma (Tuesday) and Layvin Kurzawa (Wednesday), Di Maria and Draxler were in turn placed in solitary confinement.
The Argentinian midfielder had a good chance of evolving against OL, as has been the case since Neymar treated his sprained left ankle. The Brazilian will also return from Brazil on Sunday, after putting away his crutches the day before.
Pochettino must also compose without Hakimi, Gueye and Diallo gone to the CAN / But he can count on Kehrer who does not seem to feel the small muscular sore which forced him to leave Monday in Vannes. As for Sergio Ramos, suspended for the match in Morbihan, he also seems fit to return to competition.