Tensions in PSG's locker room after Zabarnyi's transfer “asked for Safonov's departure:” The Russians must be isolated! “
Article by Daniel Scorpie – published on Friday, September 5, 2025, 20:12 / Updated on Friday, September 5, 2025:14
Before the Ukraine – France party, scheduled tonight in Wroclaw in the CM 2026 preliminaries, the daily L'Equipe presented the conflict that broke out with PSG with the arrival of Ilya Zabarnyi. The central defender would have sent to the European champion to escape the goalkeeper Matvey Safonov: “The Russians are aggressors who are trying in vain to destroy the freedom and independence of Ukraine. The war continues, and I have no relationship with any Russian.”
The harmony in Luis Enrique's locker room could suffer from the transfer made by PSG last month. The move of 63 million euros from Bournemouth lit the spark of adversities between Ukrainians and Russians, and the fact that in the Parisian lot there is Matvey Safonov disturbed the central defender of 23 years.
Illia Zabarnyi was presented at PSG / Photo: Instagram
“Safonov has a contract that cannot be terminated by PSG”
Zabarnyi, writes French journalists, would have asked for Safonov to be sold before accepting the PSG offer, at least according to former Ukrainian goalkeeper Denys Boyko, who spoke for the Football 360.
The former Dinamo Kiev's goalkeeper said: “Fortunately, Safonov does not play. And this is already a positive thing. I talked to Ilya and I know he asked, as a condition to sign, that the Russian is no longer part of the lot. But not everything can go according to plan. Safonov has a contract that cannot be terminated. “
Purchased a year ago from Krasnodar for 20 million euros, the Russian goalkeeper is legitimized at PSG until 2029. Last season, Matvey remained in the shadow of Donnarumma, and now will be Chevalier's reserve.
Rumors about a possible transfer had been circulating during the summer, before Zabarnyi's arrival, but Safonov clearly said he wanted to stay: “I am ready to fight for new trophies and new opportunities.”
Matvey Safonov, PSG's Russian goalkeeper. Photo: Instagram
Ilya Zabarnyi: “The Russians are aggressors who try in vain to destroy the freedom and independence of Ukraine”
And coach Luis Enrique wanted to intervene, explaining that “sport, and football in particular, is the best way to bring people together and create unity, not separation.”
Zabarnyi did not resonate at all with this message and said: “I thank the PSG for giving me the opportunity to play at the highest level and to represent my homeland internationally. At the same time, my country has been in war for four years. The Russians are aggressors who try in vain to destroy Ukraine's freedom and independence.
The war continues, and I have no relationship with any Russian. As for my teammate (no – Safonov), I have to interact with him at a professional level and stay on the same field in training. I will fulfill my obligations to the club, but I want to point out that, as long as the war continues, I fully support Russian football in the world. ”
