It was the interminable transfer that could never quite muster a finale. But now, Kylian Mbappe has left Paris Saint-Germain and, for the French champions, a new reality truly sets in.
The implications of his exit on and off the field have been poured over for some time — and, in truth, the club began their transition from a ‘galacticos’ era to something more sustainable last summer. Clicking ‘reset’ on the PSG project is always a possibility with the resources at their disposal.
The talk of a new era was matched by the optics of a new training ground, a new coach and 13 new faces in the transfer market last year, but that transition to a world of “no more megastars” was overshadowed somewhat by a very public standoff with that last surviving galactico… Mbappe. His future dominated everything, not least after he was put up for sale and thrown into the “loft”.
Yet, while summers can be stormy at PSG, this year has been a little more tempered. So far.
The most drama has concerned the club’s anger towards comments by the Lyon owner John Textor, who clashed with Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the French Football League’s (LFP) discussions over a belated new TV rights deal, following a much-criticised tender process.
Last week, Textor told Brazilian outlet O Globo that all PSG “have to do is reach into their pockets, drop a little oil money and I’m done for”, when referring to the challenge Lyon face in Ligue 1. This week, that comment was met by a strongly worded letter from PSG in response.
And that may not be the only off-field intrigue. Mbappe may be wearing the colours of Madrid now but not everything is fully resolved. The club are withholding some of his salary while terms are discussed regarding an “agreement” made earlier in the season that helped facilitate Mbappe’s return to the PSG squad last summer. Mbappe’s mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, spoke to Le Parisien this week after Mbappe was unveiled at Madrid, and she discussed the legal potential of the situation.
“Sometimes, when you separate, you have to decide who gets the TV, who keeps the furniture or the car,” she said. “That’s where we’re at. I hope that all this won’t tarnish everything we’ve been through, that we won’t leave it at that. I want to remember the positive thing about PSG, that even this year when it was difficult, playing at the Parc, in your home town, is beautiful.”
This matter could go to court, as The Athletic outlined here, and on that possibility, she said: “If we have no choice, yes, for sure. Now, I really hope that the contract we signed two years ago will be respected. In reality, no one can say what happened — not me, nor the PSG representatives — because for two years Kylian and the president have always met alone, apart from once. And all that hasn’t stopped Kylian from playing since the announcement was made in February…”
Back to matters on the pitch, PSG are preparing for a new campaign where, for the first time perhaps since QSI bought the club, there is no big star in the team. This naturally only enhances the power of Luis Enrique, the head coach who guided the team to a Champions League semi-final last season.
He again cycled into work this week as some of his players returned for pre-season testing on Monday. Unlike in previous years, PSG are not embarking on a globetrotting summer tour. Last year, they headed for Japan and bolted on a stop in South Korea, following their acquisition of Lee Kang-in and his popularity there at the time.
This year, there were plans to head for China, as the club continues the expansion of their brand globally, with a new club store there also anticipated.
However, the tour plans were pulled last minute owing in part to uncertainty about the promoter, according to sources with knowledge of the matter — who, like others consulted for this piece, spoke on condition of anonymity due to their need to preserve relationships.
So instead, PSG have opted not to seek a money-spinning trip and go for a sedate summer, with notable public friendlies to follow against Sturm Graz in Austria and RB Leipzig in Germany. Their Trophees des Champions clash with Monaco, scheduled also for Beijing on August 8, was also postponed by the LFP earlier this month.
This will then be the first non-Covid impacted pre-season where PSG do not embark on a major tour. A calmer pre-season, after a European Championship and Copa America, plus the Olympic Games in Paris, was felt to be the most sensible option. The club had 16 senior players on international duty – excluding loanees such as Xavi Simons.
Their international players will rejoin the main group in stages and they will meet some new faces. Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, 25, has signed from Russian club Krasnodar. Gabriel Moscardo is also with the group; the 18-year-old defensive midfielder was signed in January this year but loaned back to Corinthians in Brazil for six months. Presnel Kimpembe is also back in full training after missing all of last year with an Achilles injury.
On the coaching staff, Luis Enrique has appointed an additional assistant coach, Guillem Hernandez Folguera. The 30-year-old has previously worked in the academies of Venezia and Barcelona.
Safonov has joined PSG as they embark on their non-galactico era (Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Eight players have been told they should search for a new club this summer. Last year, Mbappe was one of them when he was dumped into what is called the ‘loft’ in France — a group of undesirables akin to what is known as the ‘bomb squad’ in English football. Those eight players this season are Renato Sanches, Juan Bernat, Colin Dagba, Ismael Gharbi, Ilyes Housni, Noha Lemina, Vimoj Muntu Wa Mungu and Louis Mouquet. They will be training separately from Luis Enrique’s main group at Poissy.
But there is a slight difference this year. PSG are not referring to the group as a ‘loft’. Instead, they are planned to be part of a new ‘Espoirs’, or reserves/under-21s team that the club wish to create for this coming season. Club sources say they are in contact with the FFF about establishing this new team in a league set-up.
They are not likely to be the only players who depart, though, and nor will Safonov and Moscardo be the only new faces.
In attack, PSG must face up to the reality of losing their all-time leading goalscorer — one who also accounted for 36 per cent of their 120 goals in all competitions last season (Mbappe scored 44 goals). PSG committed to spending a huge amount of money last season, more than €300 million (£253, $327m) as they overhauled their squad. But there will be money to spend, according to club sources, aided by the departure of Mbappe.
The club’s headline targets are in Naples. Both Victor Osimhen and Kvara Kvaratskhelia are targets for the French champions. If both players are to be acquired, it may require a forward to depart. That is most likely to be Randal Kolo Muani, who did not fully establish himself during his first season and has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid. Kolo Muani was a last-minute signing from Eintrach Frankfurt last summer, in a deal that, should add-ons be met, could hit €90million.
Osimhen is a target for PSG (David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The club have also targeted 19-year-old midfielder Desire Doue, at Rennes, while Joshua Kimmich, at Bayern Munich, has also been discussed internally. The club do have a strong midfield with Vitinha excelling last season and Warren Zaire-Emery one of the most exciting young talents in world football. Fabian Ruiz, meanwhile, has steadily worked his way into Luis Enrique’s thinking and has just enjoyed an extremely impressive European Championship tournament with Spain. That means the door is open for Manuel Ugarte to depart if PSG receive a good offer for him. Manchester United are one of his suitors but they are not alone.
The theme for PSG remains that of last summer, which is more about younger talent, and ideally French. It is why they were keen to sign Lille prodigy Leny Yoro, who has instead joined Manchester United. Defence remains an area they will want to strengthen.
Xavi Simons, meanwhile, another exciting young player, has an uncertain future. PSG were adamant earlier in the summer that they would not sell and that position remains, mainly because a departure before Christmas would see funds going to Simons’ former club PSV Eindhoven. If he is to depart, a loan with an option or obligation is the most likely outcome.
The PSG of the post-Mbappe era will take a bit of time to shape but there should be a clearer picture next month. The transition to a new-look team began last year, but life without their former frontman has well and truly begun.
(Top photo: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
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