Nasser Al-Khelaifi has explained why Paris Saint-Germain are happy to see their Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe era come to an end.
♦ South American forwards left in 2023
♦ World Cup-winning Frenchman now departing
♦ Collective more important than individuals
WHAT HAPPENED?
The French giants have prided themselves on being able to attract the very best players on the planet to Parc des Princes. Back in 2017, they shattered the world transfer record when prising Brazilian superstar Neymar away from Barcelona, while also bringing in future World Cup winner Mbappe.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
By 2021 they were in a position to welcome eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi onto their books, but Champions League glory continued to fall agonisingly out of reach. Messi and Neymar departed in the summer of 2023, for Inter Miami and Al-Hilal respectively, while Mbappe is now heading to Real Madrid as a free agent.
WHAT AL-KHELAIFI SAID
PSG could be forgiven for wondering how they will plug such sizeable gaps in their attacking unit, but Al-Khelaifi has said at a meeting of the European Club Association (ECA) – as reported by RMC Sport: “This is a new era for us; we are very grateful to Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe for everything they have given to the club. With all due respect to them and for what they have done for the club, I wish them the best in their new challenges; but as a club, the star is the collective. PSG is focusing on the collective, on having a great team with a great coach, which we have.”
WHAT NEXT?
Former Barcelona and Spain boss Luiz Enrique remains in charge at PSG, and delivered another Ligue 1 title in 2023-24. He is expected to dip into the transfer market again this summer, with it suggested that Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could be drafted in as a replacement for all-time leading goalscorer Mbappe.