5. Javier Pastore: 2011 – present
138 league games / 24 league goals
Argentina
Recently described by Eric Cantona as “the most creative player at the moment. For me, the best player in the world”, Pastore has become a crucial element in the sea of stars that now represent PSG.
One of the first major investments in the wake of the Qatari ownership, the club flexed its new financial muscle by splashing out around €39.8m for the languid Argentine playmaker after making waves in Serie A with plucky Palermo.
After initially struggling, El Flaco has now grown into a vital link between midfield and attack, supplying an endless stream of vertically-slicing through-balls – rekindling his once fearsome attacking partnership from Palermo with Edinson Cavani.
Pastore’s strong form at the end of last season – particularly in the Champions League – coincided with a return to the national team where he’s successfully linked up with a certain other Number 10; albeit playing in a more orthodox midfield role.
