Paris (AFP)

It will not be against Angers on Friday (9 p.m.): the date of the Paris SG debut of star defender Sergio Ramos remains an enigma, as does his ability to regain his best level at 35, due to repeated injuries.

Since his recruitment in July, the former captain of Real Madrid, who arrived free in the French capital, has not played a single minute with his new team, including friendly.

But his jersey flanked by the N.4 occupies a good place alongside that of Lionel Messi in the window of PSG shops.

Therein lies all the paradox of his first months in Paris: if his popularity is intact, his sporting contribution leaves much to be desired.

While PSG hoped to play him in early September, persistent left calf problems, and a relapse, postponed his return to competition.

"We hope that he will return as soon as possible, but for the moment, we cannot say when," said Parisian coach Mauricio Pochettino in early October.

- Set aside by La Roja -

Before Angers, he continues to train separately, while waiting for his integration into collective sessions.

The reassuring words of the player at the beginning of July - "I have recharged the batteries, physically and mentally. I feel very good" - have become inaudible in the face of the doubts that surround him.

Sergio Ramos (L) alongside PSG sporting director Leonardo and President Nasser Al-Khelaifi during a training session at Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 27, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

At 35, the international with 22 trophies with Real and nearly 900 professional matches since his debut in 2004 is experiencing an unprecedented drop in activity for him: in 2021, he only played seven games.

"At his age, after such a career, that his body can be tired, that can be understood", explains to AFP Xavier Frezza, physical trainer.

The last appearance of the Andalusian dates back to May 5, 2021, it was the semi-final return of the Champions League lost against Chelsea in London (2-0), which eliminated the Merengue club.

Already, the context was difficult for Ramos, between repeated injuries (thigh, calf, ischios), the Covid-19 (contracted in April), and the failure of negotiations to extend his contract at Real, his house for sixteen years. .

What feed the thesis of the decline of a player that the coach of Spain Luis Enrique did not call for the Euro last summer, while Ramos has participated in all the campaigns of La Roja since the World Cup - 2006.

"The current reality of Sergio Ramos may be different from that of 2014, as for Messi or Neymar," admitted Pochettino in a recent interview with Spanish media Movistar +.

The prolonged absence of the Andalusian deprived the technician of a safety net for his central defense, where Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe continue the matches without breathing.

- Experience -

"Poche" also lost time in its quest to find the best tactical balance to develop the "MNM", the attacking trio formed by Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

With Ramos, Paris could consider playing three behind.

PSG defender Sergio Ramos in the stands with his son during the Ligue 1 meeting between Paris and Clermont Foot on September 11, 2021 at the Parc des Princes FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

This summer, Eric Rabesandratana, former central defender of PSG, said he expected a lot from the integration of Ramos: "His experience, his way of being on the pitch will necessarily make the others grow alongside. He has not won as much. of titles by chance ", developed the one who works as a consultant for the radio France Bleu Paris.

But, even if Ramos resumes the collective sessions, we will have to wait to see him in great shape, warns Xavier Frezza: "To have a consistent pace, it's minimum three weeks. A month or a month and a half to be at 100 %. "

Especially since "calf injuries are always delicate. There are a lot of relapses. It is a muscle used on jumps, accelerations ...", he continues.

The clock is ticking for Ramos, one year before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But the player may have one last surprise in store, he who built his legend with goals in added time to get his team out of a bad situation.

© 2021 AFP