It was not even 10am yesterday when PSV dropped a real bomb on its social networks. “Xavi Simons will leave training camp immediately to transfer to Paris Saint Germain. The 20-year-old striker arrived at PSV last year and has become an important part of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team. The news took everyone by surprise, as no one really expected to see the 20-year-old attacking midfielder walk out of the Philipps Stadion after such a successful 2022/2023 season (22 goals, 12 assists in 48 matches, all competitions combined). It is therefore logically a real blow that the Batavian club took, especially since it saw big for Simons.
PSV wanted to make Xavi Simons the highest paid player in club history and had bet everything this summer on a recruitment campaign based on an extension from the middle. Finally, even if it does not commit to anything (Lionel Messi did promote the new PSG shirts), but Xavi Simons had made the presentation of the new club shirts. Seeing him return to PSG therefore disappointed more than one. But why such a choice, when Paris is already preparing to send him elsewhere (to RB Leipzig)? THE Telegraaf explains that four reasons are at the origin of this decision.
A very ambitious Simons
First of all, PSV couldn’t keep up with PSG financially, even though the Batavians were ready to try hard. Secondly, the player wants to play the leading roles in the Champions League. But PSV must go through a preliminary round and in recent years, it has not succeeded. Then, contrary to rumors that had come out, the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy also played against PSV. The player had established a good relationship with his former coach who had done everything to convince him to stay. His sudden departure was therefore badly experienced. And it wasn’t really Peter Bosz, who replaced RVN, who was able to convince him.
Finally, when he returned home to revive a slow career, the playmaker formed his own coaching staff to work outside of training at PSV. He devoted a lot of time to its development. A recovery that Xavi did not see enough in his teammates and which ended up making him doubt. Clearly, Simons did not see himself staying in a championship which certainly revived him, but which no longer matched his new aspirations.
