Rafael Nogueira
Paris Saint-Germain’s preparations for their UEFA Super Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur have taken a dramatic turn, with Gianluigi Donnarumma left out of the travelling squad. The Italian shot-stopper, a cornerstone of PSG’s recent European success, is now heavily linked with a Premier League switch after rejecting a contract extension in Paris.
According to L’Equipe, Luis Enrique has opted to exclude Donnarumma from both the Super Cup squad and the first-team group heading to Udine for the Ligue 1 opener. This decision signals a clear shift in PSG’s long-term planning between the posts.
The timing is telling. PSG are fresh from a bitter Club World Cup disappointment in the US earlier this summer, and Enrique’s men are desperate to start the 2025/26 campaign with silverware. Against Europa League champions Spurs, the Parisians face a high-stakes opportunity to reassert their dominance on the European stage.
From a tactical standpoint, the absence of Donnarumma could force PSG to tweak their defensive structure. Expect a different build-up dynamic from the back, potentially opening the door for Spurs’ pressing game to disrupt early phases of possession. Bettors will be watching closely to see if the odds shift in Tottenham’s favour in the hours leading up to kick-off.
With the Super Cup on Wednesday, the focus will be on whether PSG can adapt swiftly without their No. 1 — and if this marks the start of a new era in goalkeeping at the Parc des Princes.