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PSG CONSIDERING CANCELLING SERGIO RAMOS’ CONTRACT FIVE MONTHS INTO NIGHTMARE SPELL

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly pondering the possibility of terminating Sergio Ramos’ mammoth contract just months after sanctioning it. Ramos is still yet to kick a ball for the French giants following his summer move from Real Madrid.

The Spanish defender has been ruled out with a calf complaint for the past three months and hasn’t played since Real’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Chelsea back in May.

Despite that, it’s estimated that the 35-year-old has already pocketed in excess of £4million during his five-month stay in Paris based on the extortionate sums that have been circulated in relation to his salary.

And reports in France are now suggesting that PSG chiefs are growing weary of the situation regarding the veteran defender and that ripping up his expensive new contract ‘hasn’t been ruled out’.

“The trust that some placed in the defender at the time of his signing, or even after his calf injury a few weeks later, is no longer unshakable today,” Le Parisien reports.

But PSG would need to come to a compromise on compensation with Ramos – who may not be willing to play ball on being shunted out of the club just months into a two-year agreement.

Ramos’ arrival was seen as a coup by the club as they finally bid to end their wait for European glory under Mauricio Pochettino this term.

The Spanish international’s was just one of an influx of expensive new arrivals alongside ex-Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Gini Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi and Gianluigi Donnarumma. But so far, PSG’s trio of free signings, Ramos, Messi and Wijnaldum, have struggled to meet lofty expectations at the Parc des Princes.

Messi was hooked off at half time during PSG’s 2-1 victory over last season’s Lige 1 champions, Lille, and is still yet to find the net for his new side in the league this term

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Lionel Messi scores twice to complete comeback

Lionel Messi scored twice in the space of seven minutes as Paris Saint-Germain grabbed a 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig in a thrilling Champions League encounter.

Kylian Mbappe had fired PSG into a ninth-minute lead, yet Andre Silva deservedly pulled Leipzig level in what was another laboured and imbalanced performance from PSG on Tuesday.

Shorn of the injured Neymar, Mauricio Pochettino’s team looked set to be punished when Nordi Mukiele scored Leipzig’s second to put them ahead just prior to the hour at Parc des Princes.

However, Messi was on hand to stem Leipzig’s hopes of a first Champions League win of the campaign with a somewhat fortuitous finish, before the former Barcelona superstar chipped home the winner from the penalty spot.

Mbappe slammed a second penalty high over the bar in stoppage time, though PSG still moved to the top of Group A.

Preferred to Gianluigi Donnarumma, Keylor Navas had to be alert early on, denying Konrad Laimer and then Silva.

But PSG struck first as Julian Draxler fed Mbappe who, after isolating Willi Orban, wrongfooted Peter Gulacsi with a superb low finish to cap off a supreme counter-attack.

Silva was inches away from restoring parity with a fantastic volley that clattered off the post, though PSG’s luck ran out when the Portugal forward stole in unmarked to tuck in Angelino’s cross.

PSG’s defensive frailties were exposed again after the restart – Angelino whipping in another fantastic cross that was side-footed home by his fellow wing-back Mukiele.

Yet Leipzig’s hard work was undone when Mbappe latched onto a loose ball and turned it back for Messi. His shot was palmed onto the post, but he followed in to nudge home on the line.

The turnaround was complete in the 74th minute. With Mbappe having drawn a clumsy push from Mohamed Simakan, Messi stepped up to send a Panenka down the middle from 12 yards.

Messi seemed all set to round off his hat-trick when a second spot-kick was awarded PSG’s way for a foul on Achraf Hakimi, only for Mbappe to take it instead, with the France forward blazing over.

With Leipzig dominating after their second goal, Pochettino brought on Danilo Pereira and switched to a back three. 

The change in shape worked, matching their opponents and freeing up Messi to play alongside Mbappe, with the two working in tandem to level proceedings.

Defensively, PSG were far too porous, allowing 18 attempts on their goal. However, they had the quality up top to pull through, while Jesse Marsch’s Leipzig sit bottom of Group A, and seem almost certain to be heading out.

Messi makes the difference

While Messi’s first PSG goal – a sublime strike in the win over Manchester City – was of the calibre you would expect from the world’s greatest player, his second effort was rather scrappier, with Gulacsi making a mess of getting the first shot away.

Messi’s third goal, however, displayed all the quality and composure the mercurial 34-year-old has at his disposal. He is level with Mauro Icardi and Neymar in terms of PSG players with the most Champions League goals in their first three appearances in the competition, but really, he should have been given the opportunity to move clear in that regard.

Mbappe adds sour note with dreadful spot-kick

It would be wrong to suggest Mbappe had a poor game. In fact, alongside Marco Verratti, he was probably PSG’s best player. His opener was a sensational finish, and brought up his 40th direct goal involvement in the Champions League for the Parisians.

He then won PSG’s first penalty, after setting up the goal that made it 2-2, but perhaps his ego got the better of him when he denied Messi the chance of a hat-trick. There were no protestations from his legendary team-mate, though if he is going to pull rank in such a situation, he had to at least hit the target.

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MESSI SCORES MAIDEN GOAL FOR PSG IN WIN OVER MAN CITY

Lionel Messi gave Paris St Germain fans what they came for as he helped them beat visitors Manchester City 2-0 in their Champions League clash with his first goal for his new club on Tuesday.

The Argentine forward, who joined PSG on a two-year contract after leaving Barcelona, found the top corner in the second half to add to Idrissa Gueye’s early first-half opener and put the capital club top of Group A on four points.

Messi had been quiet on his fourth appearance for PSG until he netted on the counter as his link up play with their France striker Kylian Mbappe bore fruit.

After two games, City are third on three points, one point behind PSG and Club Brugge, who beat RB Leipzig 2-1 away.

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AHEAD UCL TIE: MESSI FIT TO TAKE ON MANCHESTER CITY

Lionel Messi is fit and in contention to line up for Paris St Germain against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The six-time world player of the year has missed PSG’s last two games with a knock but has trained ahead of the Group A clash at the Parc des Princes.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has also revealed key midfielder Marco Verratti could return after a knee problem.

Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference: “Leo is in the same position as Marco. He is in a very good way. I think he will be in the squad tomorrow but I still haven’t decided on the starting XI.”

News of Messi’s fitness raises the prospect of City facing the great Argentinian as part of a formidable forward trio with two of PSG’s other big-name stars in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Pochettino, however, was forced to play down reports of disharmony in the camp between Brazil star Neymar and France World Cup winner Mbappe.

Having been substituted in Saturday’s Ligue 1 victory over Montpellier, Mbappe appeared to react angrily when Neymar subsequently set up a goal for Julian Draxler. His complaint seemed to be that Neymar had not done him any such favours earlier in the game.

“Small incidents sometimes can create a wave but it is actually just talk,” said former Tottenham boss Pochettino.

“These things happen, there are always things between top players. They are competitors who want to win and help the team achieve good.

“I have spoken to them individually and they have spoken to each other. There have also been photos of them enjoying themselves in training. The team is happy and calm. There is a good atmosphere.”

PSG are nine points clear in France after only eight games but they were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Bruges in their first Champions League outing and the Messi-Neymar-Mbappe axis is actually yet to spark.

Pochettino said: “Of course they need time to work together. They need time to work in different environments and to link up in a different way than they did in the past.

“PSG are always under pressure and big stars feel pressure for different things but the most important thing is that we are so happy with the squad that we have built. Now we need time.”

Pochettino also asked people to be patient with Messi, who has started just two games since his much-heralded move from Barcelona.

He said: “We are talking about the best player in the world but, saying that, you still need to understand that he is a man, like us, that needs to adapt to the new club and the family needs to adapt to the new society and new culture.

“Let people work, let the player adapt and start to feel at home.”

Pochettino, who would not confirm reports he was set to prefer Gianluigi Donnarumma to Keylor Navas in goal, predicted a tough game.

City beat PSG in last season’s semi-finals.

Pochettino said: “City have been under the best coach in the world, in my opinion, Pep Guardiola.

“They want to win the Champions League and they are further ahead than PSG in that process but we know that in a football match anything can happen.”

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PSG CONFIRM LIONEL MESSI KNEE INJURY PROBLEM

Pochettino’s decision to substitute Messi has been further vindicated as the French giant confirm that Lionel Messi was injured during the Ligue 1 tie.

Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to sub off Lionel Messi the other night caused quite a stir.

Finally making his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain in their game with Lyon, Messi hadn’t hit the kind of heights we’ve come to expect of him and, with the score 1-1, he was replaced with 15 minutes to go.

Mauro Icardi went on to get a late winner for PSG, but Messi’s withdrawal – and apparent snub of Pochettino as he made his way to the bench – generated most of the headlines after full-time.

Now, though, it seems Pochettino’s decison to to call the former Barcelona man back to the bench was even more justified.

A statement from PSG has confirmed that Messi has picked up a knee injury which will rule him out of the midweek Ligue 1 fixture with Metz.

Messi is said to have undergone an MRI scan on his left knee earlier in the week which showed signs of bone contusion. The club is expected to provide a further update in the next 48 hours, with PSG’s mouthwatering Champions League clash with Manchester City just a week away.

PSG are also due to play again at the weekend when they host Montpellier. Messi, it would appear, will be a doubt to start that game.

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LIONEL MESSI SUBBED OFF IN LATE PSG WIN AGAINST LYON

Lionel Messi was substituted late on during his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain before Mauro Icardi grabbed a last-gasp goal to secure a 2-1 win over Lyon.

With the score at 1-1, Messi was brought off after 74 minutes and looked on in shock as he passed PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino.

However, PSG secured all three points in stoppage-time through substitute Icardi’s header.

Neymar’s penalty had cancelled out Lucas Paqueta’s opener in the second half.

Messi has still not contributed a goal or assist in all competitions since joining PSG on a free transfer from Barcelona this summer.

Lyon, who made a stuttering start to the season, are ninth with eight points while Marseille moved up to second on 13 points from five games after a convincing 2-0 victory against Rennes.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for an attacking lineup with Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria in front of a two-man midfield featuring Idrissa Gueye and Ander Herrera while Gianluigi Donnarumma started his second Ligue 1 game after Keylor Navas featured in the Champions League.

“It’s a really important victory against a very good Lyon side,” said Pochettino. “The team showed their character after conceding the goal and that’s the most important thing tonight.

“Now we need to work a lot to find our balance.”

Messi looked more lively than against Club Brugge on Wednesday, forcing Anthony Lopes to a great save with a low crossed shot on 32 minutes after a clever backheel from Neymar.

Four minutes later, his 25-metre curled free kick crashed onto the bar.

Lyon went ahead nine minutes into the second half when Karl Toko Ekambi played Paqueta through for the Brazilian to beat Donnarumma at the end of a late run into the area.

It spurred PSG back into action and Neymar, who was closer to his best than in any other game this season, was brought down in the box.

The Brazil forward coolly slotted the ball past Lopes to convert the resulting penalty in the 66th minute.

Messi looked puzzled when he was replaced with fullback Achraf Hakimi, whose runs down the right flank were sorely missed by PSG.

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MESSI STARTS, MBAPPE INJURED AS CLUB BRUGGE FORCE PSG TO DRAW

Star-studded Paris Saint-Germain were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Club Brugge on Wednesday night in Group A in Flanders.

Lionel Messi made his first start for PSG, lining up alongside former Barcelona teammate Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the XI for the first time since joining from the Catalan giants in the summer.

Despite a long list of high-profile arrivals in Paris, it was Ander Herrera that opened the scoring in the 15th minute for the visiting side, reaching behind him to lash home a left-footed shot after Mbappe picked him out in the middle of the penalty area.

“We didn’t play a fantastic game, but to be fair we did enough to win, we deserved to win,” said Herrera.

“Maybe they had opportunities at the beginning of the second half but I think we controlled the match, we had a lot of chances.”

Brugge hit back before the half-hour when Hans Vanaken powered a first time shot past Keylor Navas from Eduard Sobol’s inch-perfect cross into the centre of the box to put the match back on level terms.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side found themselves under pressure from the Belgian champions after the leveller, but they managed to get into the dressing room for half-time in a 1-1 draw.

Mbappe, who went to ground in the first half and came off briefly, then limped off the pitch early in the second after an awkward tangle with a pair of Brugge defenders and was replaced by Mauro Icardi.

Both sides pushed for a go-ahead goal as the second half wore on, and Messi had a great chance saved by Simon Mignolet around 70 minutes before the Argentine was shown yellow for a challenge on Brugge’s Mats Rits.

“I didn’t have a lot of work, I just pulled a couple of saves. We played as a compact side, it was the right approach,” the Belgian said.

No winner came for either club and the teams settled for a point apiece to trail Manchester City, who thrashed RB Leipzig on Wednesday, in the group.

After the match, Pochettino urged patience with PSG’s new attacking trio: “It requires time for them to shine together.

“It requires work. I had made it clear that we’re not a team yet, we have to work for this.”

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Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain to battle for Theo Hernandez

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly identified AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez as a future transfer target.

The two European giants are regarded among the favourites for this season’s Champions League after a productive summer window.

However, the left-hand side of defence has sometimes been an issue for both clubs, something which PSG have attempted to rectify with the addition of Sporting Lisbon’s Nuno Mendes.

According to Calciomercato, that signing may not stop PSG joining Man City in the race to sign Hernandez in 2022 or 2023.

The Frenchman has enjoyed a hugely impressive two years at San Siro, contributing 13 goals from 67 starts in Serie A.

Despite Hernandez possessing a contract until 2024, Milan may be tempted into a sale if they can make a significant profit on the €20m (£17.18m) which they shelled out in 2019.

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Kylian Mbappe annoyed with Paris Saint-Germain over failed Real Madrid move

Kylian Mbappe has reportedly been left annoyed at Paris Saint-Germain‘s refusal to sanction a move to Real Madrid.

Los Blancos were supposedly willing to pay £197m to secure Mbappe’s signature in the most recent transfer window, but PSG did not respond to the mammoth offer.

As a result, Mbappe is set to remain at the Parc des Princes for one more season, and Real are expected to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with the 22-year-old in January ahead of a free transfer.

According to Marca, Mbappe was expecting PSG to accept Real’s nine-figure sum on deadline day and has been left “annoyed” with the Parisiens’ board for stalling over the bid.

While Real will have to wait one more year to secure the striker’s signature, PSG are now set to lose him on a free transfer after forking out a total of £163m to sign him from Monaco permanently in 2018.

The World Cup-winning Frenchman already boasts three goals and two assists from four Ligue 1 games this season, but he suffered a reported calf injury in France’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina during World Cup qualifying in midweek

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Paris Saint-Germain yet to respond to latest Real Madrid offer for Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly yet to respond to Real Madrid second offer to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer.

An opening bid worth around £137m was rejected, but the La Liga giants have since given the Parisian outfit an ultimatum as they have tabled a final offer worth £145.6m.

Mbappe has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Parc des Princes, and with the Frenchman yet to agree terms for a new deal, PSG are at risk of losing the 22-year-old for free next summer, if they are unable to sell him.

According to Marca, PSG have been given a 6pm deadline on Monday to respond to Real Madrid’s latest bid.

If an agreement cannot be reached before this deadline, then Los Blancos are prepared to cancel plans to complete the transfer in this window and wait until January to negotiate a pre-contract agreement to sign the player in the summer of 2022.

Mbappe, started and scored a brace in PSG’s 2-0 victory away at Reims on Sunday, increasing his goals tally for the club to 135 in 175 appearances across all competitions.