Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire-Emery controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 1st round group F football match between AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain at the San Siro stadium in Milan on November 7, 2023. Photo: AFP
Aged 17, the PSG academy product has been in impressive form since the start of the season despite intense competition in midfield at his club.
He has scored two goals and delivered two assists in 10 league matches, and caught the eye last month on Europe’s biggest stage with two assists as PSG beat AC Milan 3-0 in the Champions League.
“He’s here with us because he’s got what it takes to perform at the very highest level, even if there is competition at his position,” Deschamps said. “What he is capable of achieving with his club at such a young age shows an enormous potential and maturity.”
Zaire-Emery has been called up for upcoming European qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece. France is already qualified for next year’s tournament in Germany and will look to secure the top spot in Group B.
France hosts Gibraltar on Nov. 18 in the city of Nice and then takes on Greece in Athens three days later.
Before his first call-up for the senior team, Zaire-Emery had captained the under-21 team managed by former France and Arsenal great Thierry Henry.
Former PSG coach Christophe Galtier gave Zaire-Emery his French league debut last season when he became the youngest player in the club’s history.
The teenager joined PSG’s youth academy in 2014 and won the Euros with the France under-17 team.
He was included in Deschamps’ 23-man squad in the absence of injured Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, but the France coach said he could have been on the list anyway.
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