PSG stars Luiz and Cavani 'don't want to return' to Paris

The Paris terror attacks could have grave consequences for French football if international stars decide they no longer want to play for Paris Saint Germain following the atrocity in the French capital which left 129 people dead.

Brazil defender David Luiz, who joined PSG from Chelsea in 2014, made it clear over the weekend that he was nervous about playing in Paris again.

Speaking after the attacks, the defender, who was on international duty against Argentina on Friday night, said: "I have my girlfriend and some family and friends in Paris. They were all very sad and scared. I don't know what I'm going to do and whether I will head back [to Paris]."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

However, Luiz was back in Paris on Monday morning. He left the Brazil camp early after being sent off in the 1-1 draw against Argentina and flew back to Europe.

Before his return, he used social media to attack "fools who love to blather on about nothing" but also made it clear that he was returning to France "on the orders of the club".

He is not the only international star with reservations, reports the Daily Mail. It notes that Alvaro Gonzales, a team mate of Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, has revealed that the PSG frontman would "rather not have to go" back to France after the international break.

However, PSG's Italian forward Marco Verratti has no such qualms and is "not afraid" to return, says his agent.

Irish footballer Stephen Hunt was unimpressed by the attitude of some of the PSG players and urged them to show solidarity with their team.

PSG are not due to play again in the French capital until 28 November. Laurent Blanc's side are away against Lorient next weekend and face a trip to Malmo in the Champions League the following Wednesday.

Former Chelsea star, Lassana Diarra, who also played for Arsenal and Portsmouth, was representing France when the attacks took place and lost his cousin, Asta Diakite, in one of the shootings.

The sister of his team-mate Antoine Griezmann was in the Bataclan theatre when the terrorists struck, but was one of the survivors.