A delegation from Paris Saint-Germain, made up of all the first team players plus the club’s business managers, arrived in Doha last night to take part in the traditional winter tour in Qatar.
Over four days, the Ligue 1 champions will make most of the outstanding training facilities at the Aspire Zone. The first-team squad, boasting of global superstars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edison Cavani, will also take part in promotional activities with main sponsor QNB.
PSG fans in Qatar will be given a unique chance to get close to their heroes, with an open training session to be held tomorrow from 5pm at the Khalifa International Stadium, one of the 2022 FIFA World Cup venues.
This tour will also be an opportunity to inaugurate the brand new Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Doha, which will be run year-round on the pitches of the Qatar Foundation.
PSG are coming to Doha after 3-0 win at Amiens on Saturday, which gave them a commanding 13 points lead at the Ligue 1 summit. PSG had seen their bid for a sixth straight League Cup title ended in midweek by struggling Guingamp at the Parc des Princes, but were too strong for a dogged Amiens.
The reigning French champions remain unbeaten after 18 games of the league season, and sit 13 points ahead of second-placed Lille, with two games in hand.
Coach Thomas Tuchel left Neymar out of the squad for the trip to the Stade de la Licorne to rest a sore knee, but the Brazilian is expected to train in Doha. “He had pain in his knee and couldn’t feel free in his movements,” said Tuchel on Saturday. “He’s been with us since January 4. He’s played two games. It was too risky (to play), it’s more important that he’s not hurt and he can do a week (training) with us in Doha.”
Since 2012, the Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and Paris Saint-Germain have formed a strategic partnership to promote sports and leisure tourism in Qatar. 
QNTC has organised several tours for Paris Saint-Germain’s teams, including the 2014 and 2015 Qatar Handball Tour, the 2015 Qatar Ladies Tour and the 2013 and 2015 Qatar Tour.
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