From Titi to unwanted, Ismaël Gharbi’s story at Paris Saint-Germain has not been linear. Yet quickly considered a great hope and launched professionally on August 1, 2021 against Lille (1-0 defeat) during the Champions Trophy by Mauricio Pochettino, the attacking midfielder was able to make 12 appearances with the Ile-de-France residents. What followed was not necessarily easy. Loaned during the 2023/2024 season to the Swiss club Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy, he was able to do well (7 goals and 6 assists in 31 matches) despite the demotion of the club from the canton of Vaud.
A positive experience, but one which was not followed by a Parisian future. Finally sold to the Portuguese club Braga in the summer of 2024, whoever then opted for the Tunisian selection will not have made the switch. Far from being ridiculous (4 goals and 6 assists in 38 matches), he was however not convincing enough to play a starting role with the Minhotos and was loaned last season to Augsburg. Playing only 7 ends of matches in Germany for 178 minutes of play, he simply lost a year, pushing Braga to loan him again.
Player of the month and already decisive
Choosing playing time, he opted for a loan to Leganés, coming out of a disappointing 16th place in Spanish D2 for the year of his demotion. This season, the club from the suburbs of Madrid is showing a better face and owes it in part to Ismaël Gharbi who transfigured the Pepineros. Aligned in different positions this season as left winger, center forward or defensive midfielder, Ismaël Gharbi was rewarded with the title of best player in Leganés in August. Valuable by his versatility and his creation, he was able to be effective at important moments and remained in a full match against Granada (3-2) with a decisive pass at the start of the match and the winning goal in the last seconds.
“Very happy for the goal. I tried it throughout the match and it happened to me at the end. It’s been a dream since I was little to experience these moments. Thank you to the supporters and the club for all the love they give me, I am very grateful”confided the player after the game. Called up with Tunisia, he will play the CAN 2027 qualifiers with a match on Thursday against Uganda and another next Monday against Botswana. Enough to already worry Leganés who will have to do without him on September 28 against Castellon and on October 3 against Cadiz since the Spanish D2 continues during the international break.
His coach Rubén Albés, who is under the spell, will have to rack his brains to compensate for his absence: “He is an extremely complete player. He has the last pass, he can shoot with both feet, he is dynamic, he is hungry for victories, he has energy, he understands the game. A special player for us, who we will try to take care of or take advantage of as much as possible this week. And when he’s not there, someone else, with a different skill set, will contribute and a different approach, giving us a chance to win the next game.” After several complicated seasons, Ismaël Gharbi finds color again to the delight of Leganés.
