In a stunning development from the French capital, Paris Saint-Germain have taken drastic and punitive action against young striker Hugo Ekitike, completely exiling him from the first-team setup after his potential transfer to Newcastle United collapsed at the eleventh hour.
The 21-year-old forward has been subjected to a brutal backroom snub, with club officials physically removing his personal belongings from the first-team dressing room. Ekitike has now been banished to train alone, away from Luis Enrique's main squad, in a clear signal that he has no future at the Parc des Princes.
A Deadline Day Deal in Tatters
The dramatic fallout stems from a proposed season-long loan move to St. James' Park that included a mandatory £30 million option to buy. The deal was primed and ready for completion, with medicals scheduled and all parties seemingly in agreement. However, in a shocking turn of events, Ekitike himself reportedly got cold feet and refused to sign off on the switch, leaving Newcastle executives furious and PSG feeling betrayed.
The Magpies, who had been long-term admirers of the Frenchman, were left scrambling on deadline day and ultimately had to pivot to secure a loan deal for Juventus' Moise Kean instead.
The Price of Rejection
PSG's reaction has been swift and severe. The club's hierarchy, led by football advisor Luis Campos, is understood to be furious at the player's decision, which they believe has severely damaged their reputation in the transfer market and left them with an unhappy asset they cannot offload until at least January.
Ekitike's exile means he will not be assigned a squad number and will have no involvement with the first team for the foreseeable future. This public shunning serves as a stark warning to other players about the consequences of going against the club's wishes in the market.
This incident marks a spectacular fall from grace for a player who was once one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe. It now leaves his career at a critical crossroads, with his next move uncertain and his relationship with his current employers seemingly beyond repair.
