Safonov could lose his spot at PSG! A fierce new rival is on his trail
Matvey Safonov heads into the season as PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper, but there’s no room for complacency.
Details: After Matvey Safonov displaced Lucas Chevalier from the starting lineup last season, the Russian shot-stopper is gearing up to kick off the new campaign as the main man. However, PSG are already close to signing Japanese keeper Zion Suzuki from Parma—a player experts hail as a far more formidable competitor than the Frenchman Safonov already “outplayed.”
Suzuki is a smart, versatile, and truly intimidating rival with a modern profile, excellent footwork, and eye-catching saves. Still, Safonov boasts a higher save percentage—over 75% compared to the Japanese keeper’s 70%—and Matvey has already proven his class in the Champions League playoffs, forming a rock-solid partnership with Marquinhos and Pacho. His starting spot isn’t under threat to begin the season, but even a short run of poor form could change everything. The keeper himself has just returned from vacation and admitted on Telegram that his first week of preseason felt like "a real roller coaster." Today, PSG face Mallorca, then Manchester United on August 8, and on the 12th they’ll battle Aston Villa for the UEFA Super Cup.
Only three years separate Safonov and Suzuki in age, meaning PSG are assembling a pair of keepers from the same generation—and whoever loses this duel could be stuck on the bench for a long time.
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Dailysports
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Translated by the editors
