
PSG Attempt to Block Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Call-Up to Georgia Squad for Crucial World Cup Qualifiers Amid Injury Fears
PSG Show Concern for Kvaratskhelia After Thigh Injury
Paris Saint-Germain are walking straight into another club-versus-country battle, this time involving one of their most exciting summer arrivals: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger, who has quickly become a fan favorite in Paris, has been included in his national team’s squad for their crucial World Cup qualifiers, despite being sidelined with a thigh injury.
For PSG, the call-up has triggered alarm bells. They believe it is both premature and dangerous to rush the 23-year-old back into competitive action, particularly when he is still recovering from a knock picked up in Ligue 1 against Auxerre last weekend.
Kvaratskhelia Called Up Despite Thigh Injury
Georgia head coach Willy Sagnol has named Kvaratskhelia in his squad for the upcoming qualifiers, including a high-profile clash against Spain on October 11. On paper, it’s the kind of fixture where Georgia would desperately want their talisman on the pitch. In practice, though, it looks like a medical risk.
The winger missed PSG’s midweek Champions League showdown with Barcelona, as well as the upcoming league game away to Lille. PSG’s medical reports estimate a 10-day recovery period, which overlaps directly with the international window. By that measure, there is little realistic chance of Kvaratskhelia being fit enough to play.
And yet, his name remains on the Georgia roster. For Sagnol and his staff, the player’s influence is considered indispensable, especially in a qualifying campaign where every point is vital.
Dembele Dispute Fuels PSG’s Frustration

Paris Saint-Germain v Atalanta BC – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1
This isn’t the first time PSG have clashed with national federations over the handling of injured players. During the September international break, PSG had warned the French Football Federation (FFF) that Ousmane Dembélé was carrying a thigh problem. Deschamps played him anyway. Days later, Dembélé aggravated the injury, leaving Luis Enrique without one of his most dynamic forwards.
The fallout from that incident left PSG frustrated and wary. The club privately expressed annoyance that their warnings had gone unheeded, and the injury further complicated their already congested schedule. That memory is fresh in the minds of PSG’s medical staff, who are determined not to see history repeat itself with Kvaratskhelia.
PSG’s Stance on Georgia’s Crucial Qualifiers
For PSG, the logic is straightforward: Kvaratskhelia is injured, the medical advice is clear, and the safest option is for him to remain in Paris to complete his rehabilitation. According to reports in AS, the French champions “are not considering any scenario other than him completing his recovery in Paris.”
For Georgia, however, the stakes are different. Their World Cup qualifying hopes hinge heavily on their star man. To leave him out is to strip the squad of its greatest attacking threat. To include him, even when injured, is a gamble born out of desperation.
This tension — between club protection and national ambition — is the heart of the standoff. PSG have invested heavily in Kvaratskhelia, both financially and tactically, and are unwilling to jeopardize his fitness for fixtures where his participation seems implausible.
What Next for Kvaratskhelia and PSG?
The immediate future promises negotiations, medical updates, and a degree of diplomatic wrangling between PSG and the Georgian Football Federation. Typically, FIFA rules state that clubs are obliged to release players for international duty if called up. However, exceptions exist when medical evidence clearly shows the player is injured.
PSG will lean heavily on their medical reports, arguing that Kvaratskhelia’s injury makes him unfit to travel, let alone play. Georgia, meanwhile, may request their own assessments, keeping the winger technically “available” until proven otherwise.
The Growing Injury List for Luis Enrique

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For Luis Enrique, this episode couldn’t come at a worse time. The PSG boss is already juggling a lengthening injury list. Alongside Kvaratskhelia, the squad is currently without Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Marquinhos, with other key players carrying minor knocks.
With the Champions League group stage in full swing and Ligue 1 proving fiercely competitive, Enrique needs all the attacking options he can get. Losing Kvaratskhelia for longer than expected would be a blow not just tactically but also psychologically. Since arriving from Napoli, the Georgian winger has been earmarked as one of the cornerstones of PSG’s new-look attack.
Why Georgia Can’t Afford to Back Down
From Georgia’s perspective, the call-up isn’t reckless bravado — it’s necessity. For a nation still chasing its first-ever World Cup qualification, Kvaratskhelia isn’t just another squad member. He is the symbol of their footballing rise, the player who gives them hope against Europe’s elite.
When Georgia face Spain on October 11, it’s more than just a game. It’s a statement opportunity. Having their star winger present — even if only on the bench — sends a message to both fans and opponents that Georgia will fight with their strongest.
That emotional weight is something PSG’s medical reports cannot measure. And it’s why these disputes are rarely clean-cut.
The Club vs Country Dilemma
This situation with Kvaratskhelia is just the latest chapter in the long-running club vs country dilemma. Clubs argue they pay the wages and invest in player health, while national teams argue that international duty is a matter of pride and heritage.
When injuries fall in the grey zone — not severe enough to categorically rule out participation, but risky enough to raise concerns — conflict becomes inevitable. PSG have lived this cycle before with Neymar, Verratti, and Mbappé, and now Kvaratskhelia finds himself caught in the same tug-of-war.
Likely Outcome for Kvaratskhelia
As things stand, the most probable scenario is that PSG win the argument. The 10-day recovery timeline clashes directly with the Spain fixture, and medical evidence should be enough to justify keeping the winger in Paris.
For Georgia, the disappointment will be immense, but they may accept reality if Kvaratskhelia’s injury is transparently documented. The risk of worsening his condition before the rest of the qualifying campaign would be counterproductive.
For PSG, avoiding another “Dembele situation” will feel like a small victory. Protecting their assets is the priority, even if it risks friction with international federations.
Conclusion: A Test of Priorities
The PSG attempt to block Khvicha Kvaratskhelia call-up to Georgia highlights the eternal balancing act in modern football. Clubs see players as assets to be protected; countries see them as heroes to be unleashed. Somewhere in between stands the player himself, torn between loyalty to his employer and pride in representing his homeland.
For Kvaratskhelia, the coming weeks will determine not just his immediate availability, but also the tone of his relationship with PSG and Georgia moving forward. The winger’s influence is too valuable for either side to ignore.
And so, with Spain looming, the battle lines are drawn once again. For PSG, it’s about caution. For Georgia, it’s about hope. For Kvaratskhelia, it’s about healing in time to prove why both sides are fighting for him.
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