Nuno Mendes is making waves. Many consider him one of the best left-backs around. His season with Paris Saint-Germain has been outstanding. Tomorrow, he faces Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final. He hopes to add this trophy to a stack of others. PSG already won the French League and French Cup. They also lifted the Champions League and Nations League trophies in 2024/25. Spanish papers are buzzing about him. The ‘Marca’ newspaper especially highlighted his rapid rise.
Marca titled their story, “the predicted explosion that the pandemic took away from Real Madrid.” Back in 2020, Real Madrid had Mendes on their radar. He was playing for Sporting Lisbon back then. But the world faced a huge challenge: the pandemic. Clubs had to hit the brakes on many plans. Their main goal became sorting out their own finances. This meant talking to players about salary cuts. It also meant reorganizing how the club worked.
Because of this financial shift, Real Madrid changed its mind. Nuno Mendes was a top target, but the deal stopped. He wasn’t the only one affected. Young stars like Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz were also high on Real Madrid’s list. Their potential moves also paused during that uncertain time. It shows how much the pandemic shook up football. Big clubs had to rethink everything.
After this period, Mendes’s future was unclear. Then, in 2022, PSG stepped in. They brought him to Paris for almost 40 million euros. Since then, he has only grown stronger. Coach Luis Enrique has been key to his development. The Marca article praised his abilities. It called him a player who “can win games.” It also noted his “disruptive offensive actions.” Crucially, he does all this without forgetting his defensive duties. He truly is a complete player.
So, while Real Madrid might look back and wonder “what if?”, Nuno Mendes certainly isn’t. He kept his head down and worked. Now, he’s shining on the biggest stages. That upcoming match against Real Madrid isn’t just another game. It’s a reminder of a path not taken. And it’s a testament to Mendes’s incredible talent. He proves that sometimes, the detours lead to even brighter destinations.