WARRIORS vice-captain Marshall Munetsi made a curious return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday, debuting for Paris FC just 48 hours after joining on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
His surprise appearance has ignited a firestorm of controversy, coming mere days after Wolves officially claimed he was still sidelined with a calf injury that saw him controversially excluded from Zimbabwe’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals squad.
The 29-year-old midfielder was introduced in the 85th minute by coach Stéphane Gilli, replacing Ilan Kebbal to help secure a vital 2-1 away victory against relegation rivals Nantes.
The cameo has immediately cast doubt on the medical narrative surrounding the player, as he appeared physically sharp despite having not played competitively since early December.
The debut directly contradicts the status update provided by his parent club on Friday.
In their official departure announcement, Wolverhampton Wanderers stated: “Marshall Munetsi has moved to French outfit Paris PC for the remainder of the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season.
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“The 29-year-old has featured 15 times for Wolves this season, scoring in the Premier League against Burnley and in the Carabao Cup victory over Everton at Molineux.
“But only two of the midfielder’s appearances have been under Rob Edwards, after Munetsi suffered a calf injury which has left him on the sidelines for the last six weeks and saw the Zimbabwean captain miss out on leading his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“As he nears his return from injury, Munetsi will now spend the rest of the current season in France as he heads to Paris FC on loan.”
Munetsi’s health has been shrouded in mystery since he limped off against Nottingham Forest in December.
While the player insisted he was fit for the continental showcase in Morocco, he was omitted from the squad — a decision that many fans believe contributed to Zimbabwe’s premature exit from the competition.
The sight of the “injured” captain playing in France has polarised the Zimbabwean football community.
Sections of the local media had gone into overdrive, questioning Munetsi’s patriotism and accusing him of undermining the new coach.
The fallout has now escalated into a standoff with national team management.
Reports indicate that Warriors coach Marian Marinica, in his post-Afcon technical report, has demanded that Munetsi apologises for his public comments regarding his fitness before he can be considered for future selection.
It is a position that Zifa is understood to support 100%, leaving the future of one of the country’s biggest stars in limbo.
For Munetsi, the move to Paris FC marks a return to the league where he spent six successful seasons with Stade de Reims before his reported £17 million move to England.
Under the terms of the loan deal, the Parisian side will cover his full wages — estimated at £75 000 per week — until the end of the campaign.
While he remains under a long-term contract at Molineux, his immediate priority is steering Paris FC away from the relegation zone.
However, his successful five-minute debut has ensured that while his club career may be back on track, his relationship with the Warriors remains a deepening crisis.