The summer transfer window saw Paris Saint-Germain move on from midfielder Leandro Paredes. The Argentine left for Juventus on a loan deal as the 28-year-old saw the writing on the wall that players would have to fight for minutes.
PSG sporting advisor Luis Campos revamped the midfield this summer, adding four new players to the group. As a result, Paredes knew if he wanted to solidify a spot on the Argentina national team, he had to go to another club that would provide him with minutes.
In an interview with ESPN Argentina (h/t AS), the midfielder explained his decision to leave being teammates with Lionel Messi at PSG as Paredes discussed the need to play outweighs being with the 35-year-old on a daily basis.
“It was one of the things that was in the balance, being close to Leo to enjoy him, to continue associating myself in the best way, but when we compared everything I decided to go out and look for minutes,” Paredes said.
#ESPNF12 "CREO QUE TOMÉ UNA DECISIÓN CORRECTA", Leandro Paredes y su paso del PSG a la Juventus antes del Mundial.@ESPNFutbolArg pic.twitter.com/gFrV87CIEw
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) September 26, 2022
Paredes understood that heading to Turin and adjusting to a new club despite the FIFA World Cup being a few months away is a risk considering he could arrive out of form or perhaps not be selected.
“It was a difficult decision, the decision to change clubs before the World Cup due to adaptation,” Paredes added. “I think I made the right decision, I needed minutes to get to Qatar in the best way, and I think this was the right thing to do.”
Juventus has an option of paying €22.6 million to make the loan a permanent deal. However, with the Serie A giant struggling out of the gate, it’s up in the air whether Paredes will remain in Turin past this season.
