French international Djibril Sidibé suffered an injury during the league match against Paris Saint-Germain, where he was forced off in the 34th minute due to damage to the cartilage in the outer meniscus of his right knee. According to Crickex App, Sidibé believes he can recover through rest and medical supervision, avoiding surgery altogether. However, this decision places his place in France’s World Cup squad in jeopardy.
National team coach Didier Deschamps is expected to submit the official squad list to FIFA by midnight on May 14. Whether Sidibé can fully recover in time remains uncertain. Reports from Italian media suggest that Juventus have already initiated contact with PSG regarding right-back Thomas Meunier as a potential replacement for departing veteran Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Meunier has played 19 Ligue 1 matches this season, contributing 4 goals and 3 assists. However, due to Dani Alves’ dominance in the lineup, Meunier has had limited Champions League action — just one substitute appearance. With PSG needing to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations before the June 30 deadline, several player sales are expected this summer.
Meanwhile, Sidibé stands at a crossroads. He must now make a crucial decision: undergo surgery and risk missing the 2018 FIFA World Cup entirely, or pursue conservative treatment in the hope of making a timely recovery. Sources indicate that AS Monaco, his club, is leaning toward recommending surgery to ensure a full recovery. However, Sidibé reportedly prefers to avoid going under the knife to keep his World Cup dreams alive.
Crickex App notes that Juventus have received encouraging signals from PSG regarding Meunier, should Sidibé’s situation force further movement in the transfer market. With Manchester City clinching the Premier League title five rounds early after a 3-1 win over Tottenham and Manchester United’s surprise loss to bottom-ranked West Brom, all eyes now turn to the final stretch of European leagues — and the critical medical decisions that could determine national team lineups.
As the saying goes, “between a rock and a hard place,” Sidibé’s dilemma encapsulates the painful balance between long-term health and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. His decision could make or break his summer.