The oddity was immediately noticed by supporters. Before Paris Saint-Germain departed for Qatar, the official photo published by the club showed only 20 players, even though Luis Enrique had called up 22 for the Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo. A controversy inevitably followed.
The absence of Senny Mayulu and Matvey Safonov quickly raised questions about the group photo. Senny Mayulu had simply taken advantage of a few extra hours of rest in Paris.
A controversy fueled by speculation around Safonov
Very quickly, however, the name of the Russian goalkeeper became central to the debate. According to several Russian media outlets, Safonov was allegedly present in the shot, behind Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, before being deliberately removed by the Parisian club, fueling suspicions of backstage discomfort. Some Russian media even shared a photo montage to support their theory.
To put an end to the rumors, Matvey Safonov himself broke his silence. “You may think I’m not there, but I am indeed there. I’ve always felt uncomfortable when trying to squeeze into group photos,” he explained on his Telegram account.
The goalkeeper then mocked the situation: “Many people said Photoshop was used, but no, it’s just me hiding here.” The incident is now closed: Safonov is indeed in Doha and training normally with his teammates.
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