In shocking statements, Georginio Wijnaldum expressed his "regret" over joining Paris Saint-Germain after finding himself on the bench for most of the team's matches. The 30-year-old Dutch midfielder transferred from Liverpool to PSG last summer, attracted by a better financial offer than that from FC Barcelona.
Wijnaldum stated in a press conference on Monday that he "never imagined being excluded from the starting lineup of Paris Saint-Germain." He continued ahead of the Netherlands' match against Gibraltar: "I can't say that I'm completely happy because the situation is not what I want, but that's football."
Out of 9 matches in Ligue 1, Wijnaldum has only played two full games, despite being a key player for Liverpool. He added: "I am a fighter. I need to stay positive and work hard to change the situation. I will have to learn how to deal with it. I have played a lot in recent years and have always been fit."
Wijnaldum, who sometimes plays as an attacking midfielder, remarked: "I really wanted to take this step (leaving Liverpool), and then this (being benched) happened. It's very difficult."
The Spanish sports newspaper "Marca" noted that Wijnaldum has not discussed his future with his coach Mauricio Pochettino, even though his contract with the Parisian club runs until the summer of 2024.
On the other hand, Wijnaldum expressed his happiness at being teammates with Lionel Messi, who also joined PSG last summer. He explained: "Seeing greatness up close is hard to describe. He is one of the best football players, seeing him train every day is a true honor, and knowing how good a person he is makes it even better." He concluded, "Messi has given the club a real boost, and I am happy to be his teammate."
