It was a joyful evening for PSG supporters.
After seeing their team take first place in their Champions League group on Wednesday, Parisian fans heard the club president display his optimism about the possibility of extending Neymar and Mbappé, whose contracts end in 2022. " We started discussing with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the discussions will remain confidential but I am very confident.
The two want to stay with us ”, underlined Nasser Al-Khelaïfi the Qatari leader.
For Mbappé, this is in line with what Leonardo said on Saturday evening in Montpellier, insisting on “the steps forward” made in the negotiations.
For Neymar, on the other hand, this is the first time that a Parisian official has gone so far to discuss the possibility of an extension beyond 2022. On November 10, the sports director of PSG had simply indicated that PSG had started discussions for the contract extensions of several players including the Brazilian number 10.
But without going into details and without giving the temperature of these exchanges.
For the Neymar camp "to date, there is nothing"
As good news rarely arrives alone, it was Neymar himself who at the same time insisted on his desire to be part of PSG over time.
“I am very happy here in Paris.
I am very happy at the club, with my teammates.
The idea of leaving does not cross my mind, he says.
We need to talk.
We have a very good relationship, I am very happy.
To see what will happen in the future.
We know that the words of the Brazilian engage only those who read them, less the one who pronounces them.
In March 2019, he had already said “very happy in Paris” before asking for his transfer to Barcelona four months later ...
So what is it really like today?
The context has changed and not just because of the health crisis.
This time, discussions really started between the two parties, which was not the case at the time.
And the desire for extension appears common.
But in Neymar's camp, we are procrastinating, waiting for a physical meeting to lay the foundations for an agreement and remuneration.
"To date, there is nothing", indicates the inner circle of the Brazilian star.
Like Mbappé, to whom he is close, Neymar will not commit beyond 2022 if he does not obtain guarantees on the competitiveness of the Parisian workforce for the coming seasons.
It is a prerequisite for him, like the appointment of the new coach, if Thomas Tuchel were to leave the club next June at the end of his contract.
Warmed up relationships
In this context, the Parisian playmaker also pushes his pawns to try to obtain the arrival of Messi, without guarantee of success.
At 36.8 million euros per year, the Brazilian star is also aware that she will not easily find a club capable of paying for his pharaonic transfer and a salary equivalent to that which he currently receives in Paris.
The Covid-19 has been there and apart from a few English clubs, it is difficult to be able to take on such a financial burden even for heavyweights like Barça or Real Madrid.
Unless the Brazilian develops a Machiavellian strategy to drag out negotiations and leave free in 2022 with a substantial signing bonus.
But that was not the trend in recent weeks where warming relations have followed a period of freezing reports.
