After Lionel Messi, Neymar and soon Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain could witness a new major departure in the coming years.
The pages are turning one after the other at Paris Saint-Germain. In 2017, the capital club opened a new chapter in its history with the simultaneous recruitments of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. Four years later, the two men were joined by another football star, in the person of Lionel Messi. A fiery trident on the marketing side, but not really exciting on the sporting level since the chemistry never really took off between them during the two seasons of their association. An observation of failure which pushed PSG to let Lionel Messi leave without trying too hard to retain him, before selling Neymar a few weeks later. Only Kylian Mbappé remained, whose departure will take place next June. Before another?
The “star-system” policy put in place by Qatar will therefore only have worked 50%. A real success on a commercial level with millions of jerseys sold and as many subscribers who began to follow the Parisian club on social networks. But on the ground, this did not follow. And after more than a decade at the head of PSG, the Qatari owner has still not won what he hoped to win as the ultimate trophy: the Champions League. Now wishing to reorient its sports policy, Paris first opted for the recruitment of a new coach last summer, with Luis Enrique capable of taking control of a locker room that was sometimes too powerful. President Nasser al-Khelaïfi also explained that training young local players was a priority, in order to restore a “local” identity to the group.
Qatar, the end of PSG?
But what about next? While Qatar is considering leaving the Parc des Princes to establish itself elsewhere, some think that the end of the Qatari era is perhaps not that far away. The arrival ofArctos Partners, new minority shareholder (12.5%) entering the capital of PSG at the end of 2023 would be a further sign of this. This is the thesis that Eric Blanc defended Wednesday evening, on the set of the channel The Team. “ Since Messi left, merchandising has plummeted. (…) They may not win and bring in less money. Sponsors are asking questions. (…) I say this is the beginning (of the end). In five, six years, they will perhaps no longer be at the head of PSG. »
And the former rugby player concluded his remarks and explained that once Qatar disengaged from PSG, “ he will serve in England “. The fact remains that Paris tirelessly continues its quest to obtain the first Champions League in its history. This season, he can still believe it since he is well placed to validate his ticket for the quarter-finals, after a success at home against Real Sociedad (2-0), in the round of 16 first leg. The rest could, however, be much more complicated, but for Kylian Mbappé’s last Parisian season, such a beautiful ending would make everyone in Paris happy.
