Lucas Digne's Struggles at PSG After Return

Lucas Digne’s return to Parc des Princes has stalled almost before it started.

Left out of Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for Friday night’s meeting with Monaco, the 33-year-old finds himself on the outside looking in, just weeks after signing a long-term deal running to 2029 following his move from Aston Villa.

This is no injury precaution or late fitness call. L’Equipe report that Luis Enrique’s decision rests squarely on “sporting reasons” after an unconvincing start to Digne’s second spell in Paris.

The warning signs flashed early.

On the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 season against Rennes, Digne did not play a single minute, watching the entire match from the bench. For a player brought back to add experience and depth, it was a jarring first chapter.

He finally got on the pitch the following week against Lille, thrown on in the 71st minute with PSG 2-0 down and chasing a lost cause. The late surge that followed was dramatic: goals in the first and fifth minutes of stoppage time salvaged a point and lit up the Parc.

But Digne’s own display did not convince the coaching staff. Those brief minutes, meant to relaunch him, instead appear to have hardened opinions. The assessment inside the camp has been harsh enough that he now finds himself completely omitted from the squad for Monaco.

The timing could hardly be worse for him.

PSG are short at left-back. Nuno Mendes, the undisputed starter, is suspended domestically after his straight red card against Lens in the Trophee des Champions before the league campaign kicked off, ruling him out of the first three Ligue 1 fixtures.

On paper, that suspension opened a clear path for Digne: a ready-made opportunity to step straight into the XI, bank valuable minutes and reintroduce himself to the PSG crowd as a reliable option on the flank.

Instead, the door has slammed shut.

Luis Enrique has turned to versatility over seniority, preferring to shift centre-backs Lucas Beraldo and Lucas Hernandez across to the left of the back four rather than lean on a specialist full-back still trying to find his rhythm.

For Digne, who came back to Paris to play, not just to be part of the group, the message is blunt. If he cannot break in now, with the position wide open, what happens when Mendes returns and the competition intensifies?