Despite a stellar season, Warren Zaïre-Emery surprisingly did not feature in the starting lineup for Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory against Arsenal on Saturday. Achraf Hakimi on the right flank and Fabian Ruiz in midfield were favored over him, a decision that even prompted an apology from head coach Luis Enrique. However, a football analyst now suggests that Zaïre-Emery’s current status could lead the French international to consider opportunities elsewhere.
One year after securing a Champions League victory against Inter Milan, Luis Enrique opted for a largely identical squad, with the sole exception of Matvey Safonov, for last Saturday’s triumph over Arsenal. Consequently, Warren Zaïre-Emery emerged as the most significant omission from the Paris Saint-Germain coach’s selection, despite having been a crucial player throughout the entire season.
Could Zaïre-Emery consider leaving Paris Saint-Germain?
“A profile like Warren Zaïre-Emery, who has had a superb season, but knows that if all eleven players are fit, he isn’t a guaranteed starter. He played by default. These young players might think they need to leave to secure regular playing time,” remarked journalist Pierre Maturana during an appearance on L’Équipe de Greg. Maturana suggested that the 20-year-old midfielder could be enticed by a departure from Paris Saint-Germain to secure a consistent starting role elsewhere. He further asserted, “He is a starter everywhere in Europe today. This kind of player could easily believe they can play anywhere in Europe. He only played because Hakimi wasn’t available, then because Ruiz wasn’t available.”
“We were truly unjust with Warren”
In the post-match press conference following the historic win against Arsenal, Luis Enrique specifically addressed Warren Zaïre-Emery’s situation. “We can only be positive; it’s a dream come true. I am extremely pleased,” Enrique stated. He then candidly admitted, “I must first emphasize that we, as coaches, were very unfair to Warren Zaïre-Emery. He demonstrated remarkable personality, but for me, it was truly unjust not to name him in the starting lineup. Nevertheless, he maintained his professionalism and entered the match in a truly special way.” Reflecting on the game itself, Enrique noted its complexity: “The match setup was perfect for Arsenal. We performed better in the second half, but facing a team that defends deep, exhibiting strong technical and physical prowess, is incredibly challenging to overcome. Yet, achieving this back-to-back victory is unbelievable, very difficult to accomplish. We are immensely proud; now is the time to celebrate.”
