Bradley Barcola made a surprise return to team training on Tuesday as Paris Saint-Germain prepare to host Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Barcola has been absent since mid-March after spraining his ankle in the 3-0 win away to Chelsea in the last 16 – and was considered a major doubt to face Liverpool.
But a player touted with a summer move to Anfield was spotted training among Luis Enrique’s squad on Tuesday morning after making a swift recovery.
It means the 23-year-old is likely to rejoin the squad for Wednesday’s first leg at the Parc des Princes before playing a bigger role in the decider at Anfield next Tuesday.
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 19: Senny Mayulu of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team's seventh goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Brestois 29 at Parc des Princes on February 19, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
He was not the only player to return to training, either, with teenage midfielder Senny Mayulu back following a calf injury.
PSG are still without midfielder Fabian Ruiz and young winger Quentin Ndjantou but Enrique has a strong squad to work with.
That also comes with left-back Nuno Mendes and midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves rested during the 3-1 win over Toulouse on Friday night.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Paris Saint-Germain players line-up for a team group photograph before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg game between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. Back row L-R: Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, captain Marcos Aoás Corrêa 'Marquinhos', goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bradley Barcola. Front row L-R: João Neves, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vítor Machado Ferreira 'Vitinha', Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé. (Photo by UEFA)
PSG XI vs. Toulouse: Safonov; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Pacho, L.Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Beraldo (Vitinha 68′), Doue (Ramos 88′); Lee (Neves 60′), Dembele, Kvaratskhelia (Mendes 69′)
Subs not used: Chevalier, Marin, Marquinhos, Fernandez, Mbaye
Vitinha will join Enrique for PSG’s pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon, with the Portugal international expected to play a key role against Arne Slot‘s side.
He was outstanding in the last 16 second leg at Anfield last season and has been PSG’s most creative player this season with 10 assists in all competitions.
Barcola meanwhile is their third-most regular source of goals this season, with the winger scoring 12 and assisting six to sit behind only Ousmane Dembele (14 goals, eight assists) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (12 goals, eight assists).
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola (L) and Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg game between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Links with a move to Anfield in the next transfer window come with Barcola having been offered to Liverpool last summer and with Mohamed Salah set to depart at the end of the season.
While he is a left winger he would clearly be an excellent signing if a deal could be brokered, with the Reds needing an upgrade on Cody Gakpo as well as a long-term replacement for Salah on the right.
It is unclear whether a move is even feasible, however, with Barcola remaining a key player for Enrique this season – his contract runs to 2028.