NEW YORK — It may be listed as a preseason exhibition match, but when Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain face off on Sunday in the 2012 Herbalife World Football Challenge at Yankee Stadium (7 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer and Univision Deportes) PSG forward Kevin Gameiro will have a lot at stake.
When Carlo Ancelotti took over the managerial reins of the club in January 2012, Gameiro lost his starting spot and rumors of a possible transfer began to swirl ever since. Some have the 25-year-old going to Spanish side Valencia, others to Fenerbahce and still others to Newcastle United in England.
Although reporters attempted to ask him about his future on Friday — on a yacht in the Hudson River, where PSG unveiled their new away kits — Gameiro remained stoic.
"Everything’s good," said Gameiro, who will now have to compete with the impending arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. "I’m here to play football and I’m not injured."
The former Lorient player, who has three caps with the French national team, scored a respectable 11 goals in Ligue 1 play for PSG last season. But only two of those came in the Ancelotti era.
His preseason has gotten off to a good start with Gameiro scoring three goals in PSG's two friendlies against Austrian side Stegersbach and Russians CSKA Moscow.
In New York City for the first time, Gameiro is now looking forward to keeping his streak alive against Chelsea on Sunday in the first soccer event at the new Yankees Stadium.
"The game against Chelsea is important because we want to show how good we are and we’re playing against a top team in Europe," Gameiro said. "We still have to find a way for the new players and old players to find their way together … Hopefully we'll build our confidence based on that game.
"I think it’s going to be a big show and I hope all the fans will be there."
