Lucas Chevalier hadn’t signed for that. Last summer, the French goalkeeper, brilliant in the LOSC jersey, was chosen by Paris Saint-Germain to take over from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who refused to extend under the conditions of the Ile-de-France club and who was then transferred to Manchester City. To snatch him from the Dogues, the residents of the Parc des Princes signed a check for €55 million (bonus included) while offering the player a No. 1 place and a contract until 2030. Very happy to join the best French club and the reigning European champions, the French goalkeeper delivered his first impressions shortly after signing his long-term lease.
“Immense pride. This is clearly a new milestone in my career. I’m taking it to the next level, and it was important for me to do it now. I felt like it was the right time. I think my loved ones are very proud of me. We have felt very, very good since our arrival. I would like to thank the President, Luis Campos, the coach Luis Enrique, all his staff and all the people who worked to bring me here. It is an immense joy for me to join Paris Saint-Germain, I will wear this jersey with love and ambition. It’s an ambitious club, and I can’t wait to meet the supporters. I am a kid who is realizing his dream, that of playing for a very big club. And that it’s Paris, the club from the capital, that has even more meaning for me. I can’t wait to see the supporters at the Park, I will give my best. Together, we will win many titles. This is Paris!”
From starter to replacement at PSG
A few months later, the Calais native lost his smile. Not always to his advantage in the Parisian cages, he started as a starter before being overtaken by Matvey Safonov, who always proclaimed that he did not fear Chevalier. Luis Enrique has made the Russian the new number 1. For his part, the Frenchman takes his place on the bench, he who is visibly having difficulty integrating into the Parisian locker room. Author of 26 matches in all competitions (28 goals conceded, 10 clean sheets), the former LOSC player pays the price for the harsh law of sport. Lucho will not do him any favors. “Football is incredible. You criticized Chevalier all the time during the first part of the season, I defended him. Now the question is when he will play. It’s high-level football.”said the Asturian coach last week, visibly annoyed by the constant questions about the management of the Chevalier case.
A player who has not played again since January 23 and a 1-0 victory against Auxerre in Ligue 1. Since then, he has been a simple substitute, in the shadow of Safonov who leaves him no crumbs. And we are not about to see the Frenchman in action again. Yesterday, PSG revealed that the French international is on the sidelines. “Victim of an injury to his right thigh this morning during training, Lucas Chevalier will remain in treatment for the coming weeks.” A new hard blow for Lucas Chevalier, who had already been stopped for 12 days last December after an ankle problem (missing 2 matches). Paris has not said more about the duration of his absence this time. But The Team reports that the player, who injured himself yesterday, will miss three weeks of competition.
A place in danger among the Blues
Even if we did not expect him to necessarily start, he will miss the matches against Lorient, Bayern Munich, Brest, Lens and certainly the one against Paris FC. He could be fit for the Champions League final if Paris ever qualifies. Other bad news for Chevalier, his injury comes a few days before Didier Deschamps’ list for the 2026 World Cup. This will be revealed on May 14. The goalkeeper will not play again before that date, so he will spend almost 4 months without playing. Last March, DD summoned him, but downgraded him. He went from understudy to Mike Maignan to number 3, behind Brice Samba. Now he will not have the opportunity to show himself or train before the final list.
And his place is not assured. If Deschamps doesn’t necessarily like to turn everything upside down, he takes the player’s situation into account. Especially since he has other options in his hands. At the start of the week, Hugo Lloris opened the door to a return to the Blues, potentially to the No. 3 position. That of Knight. Deschamps and his staff assured that this was not news. Chevalier’s injury and situation could reshuffle the cards, although he will not be out of the tournament. Robin Risser and Jean Butez, whose names have come up in recent months, are being monitored but still far away for the moment. Alphonse Areola is a substitute at West Ham. In short, things are not getting better for the 24-year-old player, who went from dream to nightmare in a few months, both at PSG and with the Blues. He will have to find a good exit during the summer transfer window to relaunch his career. A few weeks ago, Tottenham was cited as a possible base. To be continued…
