Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lucas Moura is unhappy in his current situation, according to his agent, but is unlikely to make a move due to his contract situation.
“He loves Paris, loves PSG but has had problems, has not played, is a little unhappy with the fact of not playing,” said Wagner Ribeiro, Lucas’s agent. “He often complains.”
However, Ribeiro continued to say “I think he will stay” citing the fact that the 23-year-old’s contract runs through the summer of 2019, leaving the player with little control over his future.
Lucas played in 35 Ligue 1 matches this season and 54 across all competitions - both numbers the highest of the entire PSG squad. However, those numbers are slightly deceiving given that he started just 25 times in Ligue 1 play, and of those 25, he was withdrawn by manager Laurent Blanc 15 times, leaving him with an average minutes played of just 64 minutes per appearance. It was the same story in the Champions League and Coupe de la Ligue as well. He appeared in all nine of PSG’s Champions League matches, but logged just 183 total minutes over those nine games. Lucas managed the full 90 in the Round of 16 cup match against St. Etienne, but only received 117 minutes over the next three games.
This is nothing new for Lucas, who averaged 65 minutes per appearance in Ligue 1 play last season - and 62 minutes per appearance in all competitions - before the Brazilian signed a 4-year contract extension last summer, saying, “For me, playing here is a source of great pride. I hope to continue helping my team win more and more trophies. My dream is to become a part of the club’s history.” That contract leaves him with little ability to force a move, with the club in control.
Despite PSG’s likely reluctance to sell, it’s possible that teams with lots of transfer business to come such as Liverpool, Manchester United, or Manchester City could inquire about his services, and expect to see his name pop up every so often.