One of the highlights of last Friday’s match against SC Bastia was the 63rd minute substitution of Parc favorite Javier Pastore. The Argentine, who has missed much of the first half of the season due to injury, returned to action and now faces the most decisive four months of his Paris Saint-Germain career.
Despite undeniable quality and his brilliant renaissance last season, Pastore is not a regular in Laurent Blanc’s starting XI. Flaco is widely considered one of the best players on the team so it’s a bit of a stunner that Blanc can’t find a place for him in his lineup. However, things could change this summer as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract is set to expire. It’s predicted that Pastore will fill the Swede’s role behind Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani next season.
The problem is though, rumors about PSG’s latest activity in the transfer market would suggest the team is trying to replace Ibra with a notable name like Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero, Neymar, Eden Hazard, and perhaps the biggest of all, Cristiano Ronaldo. Signing any of these players would be difficult but the fact remains that PSG executives are looking for an Ibra replacement should he depart the Parc des Princes after the season. This means Pastore has work to do to convince management that he’s capable of filling the Swede’s giant shoes.
Pastore was the first major signing of the Qatar Sports Investments era in 2011 and his dedication and world class talent has endeared him to PSG supporters. That being said, he needs to put in a stellar shift in the business end of the season and contribute to a deep UEFA Champions League run to make the argument for a starting role next season. PSG’s flirting with Ronaldo and other attacking players will likely remain but Flaco’s future is in his hands.
Javier Pastore turns 27 this summer and is entering a pivotal time in his career. If he fails to impress this season and remains a substitute going into next, he may need to go in search of greener pastures for regular first team football.
