The 2018 world champion joined Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday after four seasons at Bayern Munich.
Paris Saint-Germain has just welcomed a third 2018 world champion to its ranks. A defector from Bayern Munich, Lucas Hernandez will play in the capital alongside Kylian Mbappé and Presnel Kimpembe. This prestigious status does not however prevent this transfer from being labeled as a risky bet.
On paper, recruiting a 27-year-old player with such a rich list (1 Champions League, 4 Bundesliga, 1 Europa League, among others), in full force of age, has everything of a coherent project. What’s more, Lucas Hernandez has the reputation of being a surly player, hard on the man and capable of remobilizing his troops with a gesture, an intervention.
The kind of profile that is lacking in a PSG which has the annoying tendency to collapse in the evenings that matter. These qualities had not escaped Bayern Munich, who enlisted him in the summer of 2019. He filled his suitcase with trophies, including the 2020 Champions League and four German championship titles, before to turn his back on Bavaria one year from the end of his contract.
A capricious body
If the fact that he was born in Marseille (and supporter of OM) makes some supporters cringe, the real concern lies in his physical condition. Like many Parisian players (including Renato Sanches, Marco Verratti, Presnel Kimpembe and even Neymar), he is a very regular injury-prone player. Since the 2018 World Cup, the Frenchman has only taken part in 52% of the club games he could have played.
For several years, the tricolor defender took out a subscription to the infirmary. In 2019, he was sidelined for three months because of his right ankle. In 2021, it was the meniscus of his left knee that blocked him for two months, before his adductors betrayed him in 2022. Finally, this season, he has not played since the first match of the last Cup of people, during the victory of the Blues against Australia. Released in the 9th minute of play, Lucas Hernandez suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee.
It was only last May that the eldest of the Hernandez siblings was able to resume collective training. He is therefore a convalescent player who is packing his bags in Paris, but also a reinforcement of choice to complete the Parisian defense. It remains to be seen which device and which players will choose Luis Enrique to form his defense. With Marquinhos, Kimpembe and Skriniar, the new coach will have more than one option. Lucas Hernandez can also apply on the left, where he plays regularly in the France team.
Pending the departure of Christophe Galtier from PSG and the arrival of his successor, a transition to four defenders is coming up with Lucas Hernandez in addition to Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, without forgetting Milan Skriniar. Especially since the French can also evolve in the left lane. If his body finally leaves him alone, Lucas Hernandez therefore has everything in hand. PSG bet on it, but a bet remains a bet, even in the capital.