He is Paris Saint-Germain’s third summer signing. After Vitinha (Porto) and Hugo Ekitike (on loan from Reims), Nordi Mukiele signed up with the French champion for a period of five years, Tuesday July 26, from Leipzig.
@NordiMukiele pic.twitter.com/pwzOt52PxK
— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_inside) July 26, 2022
Franceinfo: sport introduces you to this versatile young 24-year-old defender, who has a selection with the Blues.
His journey: a linear trajectory for a return to basics
For a Parisian “titi” born in Montreuil, joining PSG can represent an end. In his quest for the Grail, Nordi Mukiele took his troubles patiently, with a carefully considered trajectory. Trained at Paris FC, he completed his training at Stade Lavallois, where he was launched in Ligue 2 at the age of 17. “Nordi has values, and a capacity for reflection. I have high hopes for his future.”then said to West France Stéphane Moreau, director of the Laval training center.
The latter was right: transferred to Montpellier in the winter of 2017, Mukiele quickly adapted to Ligue 1. “He is good in the air, in duels and he goes fast, the only downside comes from his concentration”, then explained his coach Michel Der Zakarian to our colleagues from France 3 Occitanie. A season and a half in Hérault later, the kid joined Leipzig with a big added value for Montpellier. He discovered the requirement of the Bundesliga and, as soon as his few giddiness were erased, he established himself there as a regular holder.
His experience: 24 years old and already accustomed to European games
Despite his young age and an almost blank track record (a German cup), Mukiele is far from being a “rookie”. With Leipzig, he played 100 Bundesliga games and has 23 Champions League appearances. The ex-Montpellier was in the semi-final lost by RasenBallsport against PSG in 2020. Holder during a trip to the Park last October, Mukiele scored there.
https://t.co/vj7fJX2zOL
— NORDI (@NordiMukiele) September 8, 2021
His remarkable performances across the Rhine opened the door to the Blues in September 2021, for a match against Finland (2-0). If he has not been selected since, he intends to take advantage of his transfer to Paris to impose himself definitively with his country.
His profile: versatility as a major asset
“Nordi is very valuable because of his versatility. He doesn’t have any problems when I ask him to change positions, even in the middle of a match.” These praises are signed Julian Nagelsmann, in 2021 in The Team. The current Bayern coach after knowing Mukiele in Leipzig (2019-2021). The right-hander is indeed comfortable in several defensive positions. In Germany, he alternated between the roles of right central defender or right piston.
These positions stick precisely with the 3-5-2 scheme wanted by Christophe Galtier. On the flank, Mukiele will offer an alternative to Achraf Hakimi, who was sometimes tired last year. To the right of the three-man defense, he will take over from a physically uncertain Sergio Ramos, and should provide more certainty than Thilo Kehrer.