Despite its tenth title of champion of France sealed on Saturday, Paris SG is preparing for an eventful summer after another failure in the Champions League. From the extension of Kylian Mbappé to the future of Mauricio Pochettino, the Qatari shareholder faces crucial questions.
– Mbappé: delicate negotiation –
PSG’s top scorer (22) and passer (14), Kylian Mbappé has had an XXL season that makes him a serious candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
Except that he risks no longer being a Parisian when the trophy is awarded this fall. The negotiations started more than a year ago between the striker and the club to extend their contract expiring at the end of June, have still not been successful.
In the absence of an agreement, “Kyky”, courted for a long time by Real Madrid, could leave free this summer.
The French press evokes pharaonic proposals to retain the 23-year-old prodigy who, in recent weeks, has been blowing hot and cold, leaving no clear clue as to his decision.
After Saturday’s match, Parisian sporting director Leonardo confirmed that a meeting took place in Doha between PSG and Mbappé’s family. “Yes, there are discussions in Doha, we meet,” admitted Leonardo at the microphone of Canal + Décalé. “Discussions with Kylian, I think there have always been. Kylian speaks with us too, there is constant communication, he is still thinking, he sees everything,” added the Brazilian.
– Messi and Neymar: superstars to reconnect –
Lionel Messi and Neymar have spent the season in the background behind Mbappé – a finding that suggests they have missed out on their season. Worse, that they would be at the end of their career.
The two South Americans have 15 goals in L1 (4 for Messi, 11 for Neymar). Raising that total will be one of the keys to next season for PSG, who have both superstars under contract.
We will have to rebuild around them, depending on Mbappé’s decision.
One of the tracks would be to surround the two thirty-somethings, in questionable form this season, with blasters who would make their job easier, like winger Ousmane Dembélé.
– Pochettino and Leonardo: on a hot seat –
Qatar must decide whether to keep coach Mauricio Pochettino and sporting director Leonardo. The two men are disputed, to the point that the ultras, exasperated by the “rise” suffered in the Champions League against Real Madrid, demand their departure.
“Poche”, under contract until 2023, plans to continue its mission. “The expectations and the desire are always to do the best, and we still have this desire for revenge intact,” he said on Tuesday.
The Argentinian has built good relations with the superstars but his meager record since his arrival at the start of 2021 (a Coupe de France, a champions trophy and a championship), does not plead for him.
The coach that Paris dreams of replacing him has won everything: the name of Zinédine Zidane, free since leaving Real in the summer of 2021, has been coming back for months in the French press …
– Workforce: upset-everything in sight –
The failed campaign in the Champions League highlighted the weaknesses of a Parisian workforce yet built with hundreds of millions of euros.
There are too many players. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, demoted to “N.1 bis” status after the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma last summer, should pack his bags, as should Angel di Maria. Sergio Ramos (36) is not sure if he will stay for his second year of contract after a season truncated by injuries.
The club would also seek a solution for players with contested performance, such as Mauro Icardi, Thilo Kehrer or Julian Draxler, or who no longer play, like Colin Dagba and Layvin Kurzawa. The promising Xavi Simons and Édouard Michut, 19, will want more playing time.
Several executives, Marquinhos, Marco Verratti and Presnel Kimpembe, whose contracts expire in 2024, are also thinking about their future. PSG have already let them know that they are counting on them for the long term, according to several media.
In the minds of the leaders, the middle would be the N.1 sector to strengthen, especially since the recruitment last summer of Georginio Wijnaldum did not have the expected return.
In addition to Aurélien Tchouaméni (Monaco), the name of Paul Pogba, at the end of his career with Manchester United, comes back insistently.
But the equation remains difficult. How to find a sporting balance, while maintaining the “glamour” which makes the mark of PSG internationally – at the risk of piling up incompatible stars on the ground? PSG has four months to respond.