In the interview with Nasser Al-Khelaïfi granted to L'Équipe on Monday, the passage on Kylian Mbappé eclipsed another announcement, undoubtedly just as important for the near future of PSG.
To the question: "Do you have the possibility of recruiting heavily?
", The president was very clear:" We are going to do some.
"Before specifying that" this transfer window will be more active than the previous ones.
We will be present, we have ambitions for this summer ”.
This is not an empty promise and the change in tone is noticeable. Since 2017 and the arrivals of Mbappé and Neymar, Paris had learned to tighten its belt. The pandemic and the long period of closed-door matches did not help matters, widening a cumulative deficit of several tens of millions. Paradoxically, this recession could benefit PSG. Because given the situation of some European clubs, UEFA will have to loosen the grip of financial fair play. Al-Khelaïfi, newly appointed at the head of the ECA (association of European clubs) asks very clearly.
"The health crisis has impacted everyone, including us," says the Parisian president.
But everyone has understood that all clubs are going to lose money.
Honestly, with the health crisis, the rules of financial fair play are untenable.
Football around the world has lost around $ 8 billion.
Financial fair play should not prevent investing (…) Do we want people to put money into football or other sports?
I want them to invest in our sport.
This is why, I say it:
we need to change the rules of financial fair play and UEFA must work on it
.
"
Hakimi and Wijnaldum first…
Without waiting to know the new rules of the game, Paris and Qatar have decided to go on the attack. The renewal of the workforce will be profound and the average level will be significantly raised. “We have to improve in certain positions. We have targeted them, we know what we want to do, ”underlines Al-Khelaïfi.
The names that have been circulating for a few days symbolize Parisian ambition. Inter Milan player Achraf Hakimi, 22, is already one of the best in the world as a right-back. Leonardo continues negotiations with the Italian leaders. The amounts circulating (between 50 and 70 million euros) may seem exorbitant, but excellent players are rare in this position and, with the Moroccan, PSG would invest in the long term. Georginio Wijnaldum would be another symbolic take. He is free and older (30 years) but while everyone announced him at FC Barcelona, he was seduced by the Parisian project. A sign that times are changing ...
Asked to comment on the Messi file, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi repeated that "all the great players want to come to PSG". He's not saying it just to annoy Barca. He also says it to remind that PSG is now one of the most attractive clubs in the world. And while Messi is not expected to leave Catalonia, other big names are on the shelves. Al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo know that a successful casting will be the best way to convince Mbappé to extend the adventure in Paris.
