PSG Was Aware of Illia Zabarnyi’s Potential All Along…

This evening, Illia Zabarnyi will play at home as Ukraine faces France at Parc des Princes. After losing 2-0 in the first leg, Ukraine aims to claim revenge and catch up with France in Group D of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Having faced challenges during the away match in Poland, Zabarnyi will benefit from the familiarity of playing on this pitch, where he competes weekly as a member of Paris Saint-Germain. Whether this gives him the edge to change the outcome remains to be seen, but the former Bournemouth player is certainly under scrutiny.

Since joining Paris this summer for €63 million, Zabarnyi has struggled to live up to his title as the most expensive recruit in the recent transfer window. His last Champions League performance against Bayer Leverkusen was disappointing, where he contributed to two penalties and received a red card, despite PSG winning 7-2. The Ukrainian also faced difficulties in a recent match against Olympique Lyonnais, which ended 3-2. Speaking to the media after a narrow victory against Nice, he stated, “I feel good, I love this club, the fans, the team, and the staff. Everyone is trying to help me. My mission is to do my best for the team.”

Paris remains patient

Initially signed to take over from Marquinhos, Zabarnyi has appeared somewhat slow and has struggled against faster players. His defensive technique, which sometimes resembles wrestling, has not been well received by referees. However, he is still regarded positively by observers. Dayot Upamecano recently commented, “He is a very good defender. If he is at PSG and starting for his national team, it means he is a good player. I don’t know him personally, but from what I’ve seen, he is aggressive and young, so he will continue to improve.”

If one of the best defenders in the world speaks highly of him, it may be wise to pay attention. For now, there’s no concern in Paris. According to Le Parisien, PSG management is not worried about Zabarnyi’s transition. They anticipated that he would face challenges adjusting to a new environment, language, and different tactical instructions compared to what he quickly adapted to in the Premier League. This means Zabarnyi still has the team’s support!