Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola has had an impressive start to the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, scoring four goals in three games. As a result, the 21-year-old earned a call-up to the France national team during this FIFA international window.
Heading into this 2024-25 season, the question was how the Parisians would replace the goal-scoring production that Kylian Mbappé left behind with his departure to Real Madrid.
It’s likely many believed that it would be a group effort, but Barcola is raising his hand that he can shoulder the load so far to start this new campaign. Moreover, the player’s surprising start to the season isn’t getting lost by his teammates on Les Bleus.
“I played with him at the Euro U21 in 2023,” Sevilla defender Loïc Badé said (h/t Sport.fr). “What he’s doing with PSG and the French team doesn’t surprise me. He’s always at a top level. He’s a fantastic player.
Manu Koné, who’s now with AS Roma, agrees with the remarks from Badé.
“I’m not surprised by his performance at PSG,” Koné said. “It was bound to happen gradually. It’s great for him, and we’re all happy for him. We hope he keeps it up.”
The question will be, once the international break is over, can Barcola continue this amazing goal-scoring pace, especially with the league phase of the UEFA Champions League set to start? Should he continue, the capital club has the next great French player on their hands.