Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Manuel Ugarte is in the news for playing ping-pong with Jeonbuk Hyundai defender Goo Ja-ryong.
Lucas Olsina, an acquaintance of Ugarte’s, posted a video on social media of Ugarte playing ping-pong with the Jeonbuk Hyundai defender’s jersey. Wearing a green Jeonbuk home jersey with Koo and his number 15 on it, Ugarte relaxed at an outdoor table tennis court.
The jerseys were apparently exchanged after the third match of the Coupang Play Series between PSG and Jeonbuk Hyundai on March 3. After signing Lee from Mallorca this summer, PSG extended their Asian tour to include games in South Korea, which was initially scheduled to take place in Japan.
PSG faced Jeonbuk at the Asiad Stadium in Busan, South Korea, and ran out 3-0 winners with Neymar scoring two goals and providing an assist. In the match, Koo came on for Petrasek at the start of the second half and played the full 45 minutes. Ugarte came on for Ethan Mbappe in the 17th minute of the second half and played about 30 minutes, giving Kouyate a good-natured competition.
During the post-match jersey exchange, Guzarro and Ugarte are believed to have swapped jerseys. Usually, the jerseys are framed and kept, but Ugarte used them for everyday wear. Thanks to Ugarte, Jackie Chan became a household name among European soccer fans.
Ugarte is an Uruguayan defensive midfielder who joined the PSG roster this summer alongside Lee Kang-in. Ugarte joined PSG on July 7 from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon for a transfer fee of €60 million (approximately $8.5 billion). Considering his expensive transfer fee and the talent he possesses, he is very likely to play in the starting midfield this season.
Meanwhile, against Jeonbuk, PSG went into halftime with a 1-0 lead thanks to Neymar’s first-half goal, and in the second half, Neymar scored a goal and provided an assist for a 3-0 victory. With one draw and two losses in their three matches on tour in Japan, the win over Jeonbuk gives PSG a good start to their 2023/24 Ligue 1 opener against Lorient on September 13.
PSG, who flew back to France immediately after the match, will resume training on July 7 after a short break last weekend.안전놀이터
“It’s done,” said France’s RMC Sport. Mbappe is not participating in team training. He will only work on his recovery in the loft group, away from the first-team group, in training on Monday,” suggesting that PSG will prepare for the new season without Mbappe.