Why Marquinhos Is the 1 Player PSG Cannot Afford to Lose This Summer

Paris Saint-Germain are facing a summer of significant change after a season that—until recently—promised so much progress upon last campaign but ultimately delivered little.

Although the French champions look likely to repeat last term’s domestic clean sweep, the UEFA Champions League semi-final berth that Les Parisiens’ Qatari paymasters were targeting did not materialise, and multiple changes are likely to be made as a result.

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A number of players are being linked with moves away from Paris this summer, while a few significant figures are approaching the ends of their contracts with no news about possible extensions.

Marquinhos is one of those players who has been linked with a transfer away from PSG, and there had been heavy speculation that Barcelona were leading the chase for his signature, as reported by SPORT.

As recently as mid-March, the Brazil international admitted in an interview with Le Parisien (h/t ESPN FC’s Mark Rodden) that he would need to consider his position at Parc des Princes carefully this summer.

Having played backup to captain Thiago Silva and David Luiz in central defence for most of the season, the 21-year-old suggested in that interview that it might be time to move on:

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Everyone knows that you need to have a period of reflection at the end of the season. We will talk about the objectives of the club and my own personal objectives. At the moment, I'm trying to be professional.

I put myself at the disposal of the club all the time at centre-back, at right-back or even in midfield. I'm trying to work to earn my place and to get game time.

"

Things did not get better immediately for Marquinhos after speaking with Le Parisien; in fact, things got worse. The South American lost his place in Laurent Blanc’s starting XI for the 2-2 draw at home with Manchester City in the first leg of PSG’s ill-fated Champions League quarterfinal.

Being discarded so that Serge Aurier could make a controversial return to the team after insulting his coach via Periscope, as reported by ESPN FC’s Rodden, prompted the former AS Roma man’s agent to react poorly to Blanc’s decision.

Giuliano Bertolucci, Marquinhos’ representative, spoke with L’Equipe (h/t ESPN FC’s Rodden) after the snub and seemed to suggest that Le President's leaving the Brazilian out was the last straw for him in the French capital: "Was Marquinhos disappointed? It's PSG who should be disappointed after such a result. I would rather not talk about it now—I'm still too annoyed for that. We'll see after the Champions League. We'll let that pass before talking about his future."

Things have looked a bit brighter for Marquinhos in Paris since the home draw with City. The man from Sao Paulo has started every match since that tie—including the 1-0 second-leg defeat in Manchester—and has seemingly usurped Luiz as Blanc’s first-choice partner to skipper Silva.

According to SPORT, after giving the French tactician an ultimatum, and helped by the fact that president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has no intention of selling him, the SC Corinthians Paulista youth academy graduate has become a fixture in the starting XI.

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Although Marquinhos’ future at PSG is still by no means certain, it appears that the likes of Barcelona are going to be less likely to land the Selecao Brasileira star this summer.

That move—and any other potential transfers—must not be allowed to happen at the end of this season.

There are a few players who should be considered unsellable at Parc des Princes, and along with Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria and Adrien Rabiot, Marquinhos should be in that bracket.

The Brazil international is a player for now and the future. After two seasons with the Ligue 1 giants, the South American has proved that he has all the required quality to start games regularly alongside Silva at the heart of the defence.

Marquinhos rarely lets Blanc down—certainly not when deployed in his preferred central-defensive role—and puts in extremely mature and consistent performances for such a young player.

There is also leadership potential there, and his ability to keep things calm at the back is in stark contrast to Luiz’s chaotic approach to defending.

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On top of all that, Marquinhos is versatile. Not only is the 21-year-old an extremely solid centre-back, but he is also a more than adequate option at right-back and can even slip into defensive midfield when asked.

Although most effective in his natural role in the middle, Marquinhos can occupy any of those positions and not look out of place.

However, if he hangs on to the starting central defensive berth alongside Silva, it should—theoretically at least—free Luiz to step into defensive midfield occasionally.

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Not only would that lighten the load on Thiago Motta, but it would also get the best out of the frizzy-haired Brazil international, who lacks the discipline to be a top defender.

A freer role in front of the defence is perfect for the former Chelsea man and could be the start of the regeneration of which PSG are badly in need.

Whatever happens this summer, Marquinhos cannot be allowed to leave Parc des Princes. With so few top central-defensive options available on the transfer market, Les Parisiens would be hard-pressed to find a similarly talented player to replace the Brazilian.

Also, the simple fact of the matter is that PSG are stronger defensively with the ex-Roma player than without him. If Blanc continues to start him over Luiz, then the 50-year-old Frenchman is simply playing one of his best players in his best position.

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Although Silva is arguably in the best form of his career at present, the fact remains that he is 31 years old and not getting any younger.

The former AC Milan still has a number of good years left in him at the highest level, but by keeping Marquinhos in Paris alongside him, PSG will have Silva’s heir already lined up when the captain does move on.

There are a number of players in the French giants’ current squad that you could make an argument for moving on this summer, but Marquinhos is not one of them. Along with Verratti, Pastore and Di Maria, he must form the spine of a new-look PSG side.