It’s starting to become an old habit and it’s not likely to improve relations between two clubs who cordially hate each other. Rivals on a sporting level (this season demonstrated it again with the clash in the quarter-finals of the Champions League), PSG and FC Barcelona often eye the same players, a question of prestige and sporting hierarchy. They are both playing to be contenders for the supreme European title.
On the ground, it’s quite balanced. If Barça often showed its superiority a few years ago, when Messi was still present, the Parisians have rebalanced things a little in recent seasons. When it comes to the transfer window, however, it is often the French club that has had the last death over its Catalan rival. If we even go back to the start of the QSI era in 2011, Thiago Silva (2013), Marquinhos (2016), Verratti (2017) and Rabiot (2019) were all close at one point to joining the Culés.
It’s still the war between PSG and Barça
PSG has always said no, even if it means giving up on transfer compensation as was the case for the French midfielder mentioned. Thanks to superior means, the Ile-de-France residents managed to have the last word, and even to go to Barcelona. The young Kays Ruiz and, more recently, Arnau Tenas arrived in France, but it was the arrival of Leo Messi that hurt Barça the most, he being the best player in the club’s history.
History repeats itself again this summer with the case of Xavi Simons (21 years old) this time. Also formerly of Barça, the Dutch midfielder shines in Leipzig where he is on loan from PSG. Luis Enrique and Luis Campos want to bring him back to the capital to integrate him into the squad. The main person concerned hesitates and could again be loaned wherever he wishes. But for Sport, one destination will not be available: Barça. The reason ? Quite simply bad relations between the two clubs.
