In the lead-up to Paris Saint-Germain’s Coupe de la Ligue BKT semi-final away to Reims, coach Thomas Tuchel spoke about club all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani’s request to leave the club.
Following Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 Coupe de France round of 32 win in Lorient on Sunday night, club sporting director Leonardo announced that Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani – who has scored 198 goals for the club in all competition since his arrival in 2013 – had asked to leave the club.
Tuchel: ‘We don’t want to lose a player’
Frozen out of the first team by the in-form Mauro Icardi, who stepped in as the Uruguayan battled a string of injuries in the first half of the season, 32-year-old Cavani is looking to play and is evidently prepared to leave the club in order to do so – something Tuchel would prefer not to see happen.
“I like this squad, I like every player. We don’t want to lose a player. But it can happen, that’s the reality. Leonardo told you everything. Edi is our player today, and I’m glad it’s like that,” said the German coach. “If things change, we’ll have to adapt. It’s not an easy situation for him, I can understand that. I’m very happy that he is staying positive and professional. If someone gets injured, we have a great replacement.”
WATCH: Cavani’s classic strike in Bastia in season 2013-14
Not so fantastic for Cavani
Unfortunately for Cavani, he has been suffering from a groin strain since 13 January and cannot currently compete for a place in the team which increases the chances of his opting for a winter move rather than potentially spending the rest of the season on the bench as Icardi continues his prolific partnership with Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Angel Di Maria.
And although the thought of losing the talismanic Cavani, who is a crowd favourite at the Parc des Princes, displeases Tuchel, his hands are tied right now.
‘A very complex situation’
“To clarify, we have to wait a few days,” explained Tuchel. “He’ll have to fight for his place and find his rhythm. He’s injured, a little too much, but it’s not his fault and it’s not ours either. He has to do individual training and it’s a very complex situation.”
>> PSG to battle bête noir Reims
>> Can Tuchel stick with PSG’s ‘Fantastic Four’?