PSG and France clash over Bradley Barcola injury | OneFootball

It is fair to say that the relationship between France and Paris Saint-Germain has somewhat soured. During the last international break, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué suffered injuries and have yet to feature since. PSG warned France’s medical staff about the fitness of the two players prior to the injuries. Didier Deschamps defended the management of the players, stating that there is “no such thing as zero risk”. Les Parisiens, meanwhile, called for increased collaboration in order to avoid a repeat.

However, friction between France’s biggest club and its national team was renewed on Monday. Bradley Barcola turned up to Clairefontaine with scans of a muscular injury in his hand. Those tests were undergone on Monday morning, instigated by PSG, in order to determine the severity of the injury to his right hamstring. He then made a swift exit from the camp, replaced by RC Lens’ Florian Thauvin.

It was PSG’s desire that Barcola did not play during the current international break and his swift exit was in accordance with the club’s desires. So far, so good. But the renewed tension came from the FFF press release that came after.

PSG insist on medical confidentiality in Barcola case

“Present on Monday afternoon at Clairefontaine, the PSG forward consulted with Dr Frank Le Gall. He evidenced a chronic injury to his right hamstring, which he has had since the Champions League match against Atalanta (17th September),” read the statement.

PSG quickly responded on X (formerly Twitter): “Paris Saint-Germain were surprised to learn of the press release published by the FFF on Monday regarding Barcola’s health. The information published in this press release does not at all correspond to the medical information communicated by the PSG medical team,” it read, with a categorical denial of a “chronic injury after the match against Atalanta.”

The statement concluded: “PSG also insist that medical confidentiality must be respected for the good of all parties.” After Dembélé and Doué, it is now Barcola who is the subject of a war of words between PSG and the France national team. After the episode of September, there is no rapprochement between the two parties, quite the opposite.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle