Paris Saint-Germain have to raise money to mend their transfer deficit. These stars should now leave the club.
PSG laughs from the top of the table in Ligue 1, has qualified for the round of 16 in the Champions League. Actually, things are going according to plan for the Sheikh Club. But over the Christmas party, the shiny facade of the star ensemble is crumbling.
On the one hand, because Mauricio Pochettino has problems keeping the cabin together. On the other hand, because the club has to stick to the austerity measures, it does not want to get into explanations again at the league and UEFA.
The L’Equipe currently reports that PSG must save around 100 million euros in order not to have to rely on a financial injection from the Sheikh. Last summer the club spent 83 million euros on new players. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Because with Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma, top stars who receive a generous salary have also been signed on for free. For Messi alone, the Parisians have to pay 41 million euros a year.
On the hit list: Rafinha, Mauro Icardi, Layvin Kurzawa, Abdou Dialla, Thilo Kehrer and Julian Draxler.
Rafinha is said to be on the verge of a transfer to Real Sociedad, bringing in around twelve million euros. Icardi should be Juve’s turn – but a deal recently broke because the Turinese had an exchange deal in mind. Kurzawa still has a contract until 2024 and is said to have said to colleagues that he absolutely wanted to stay.
So the situation is tricky.
As well as the interpersonal difficulties Pochettino is currently struggling with. The stars take more and more liberties. Neymar Jr. reportedly appeared late at training recently because he was at a sponsorship event. Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes looked too deep into the glass and called in sick with “stomach problems”. Two other South Americans stayed away from training before the Christmas holidays without excuse. There is talk of group formation and the exclusion of French players.
In addition, the free transfer of young star Kylian Mbappe has been emerging for months. His contract is running out. So far, he has refused to renew, toying with a free transfer to Real Madrid.
