Tag: Paris Saint-Germain

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Lionel Messi era begins as PSG beat Reims; Mbappe scores 2

Messi made his debut for PSG on Sunday after coming off the bench midway through the second half in a 2-0 win at Reims in the French league.

The Lionel Messi era has begun at Paris Saint-Germain, without a goal for the Argentine superstar but plenty of adulation and fanfare.

Messi made his debut for PSG on Sunday after coming off the bench midway through the second half in a 2-0 win at Reims in the French league.

Messi replaced his friend and former Barcelona teammate Neymar in the 66th minute and they shared a hug.

After years of glory for Messi at the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, the record six-time Ballon d’Or winner and four-time Champions League victor made his first PSG appearance at the modest 20,000-seater Stade Auguste Delaune.

Such is Messi’s star factor that the home fans chanted “Messi, Messi” while a smiling Reims goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic took a photo of Messi holding a child after the game.

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino was touched by the reception for Messi, pointing out that supporters of both teams were delighted to see him play.

“The welcome he got was something beautiful to see and hear, on the part of our fans but also the Reims fans,” Pochettino said.

“Messi was very happy about it. His presence generates more enthusiasm, everyone can feel it and it has an effect on the other players.”

Before the match, hundreds of fans gathered for a glimpse of Messi as he descended the team bus and he waved back at them.

They wanted to see one of the all-time greats, along with Pele and the late Diego Maradona, who Messi adored.
Messi’s incredible skill, close control, grace, vision, dancing feet, astute passing, speed of thought and execution have thrilled fans for years.

He netted 672 goals for Barca and won 35 trophies for the Spanish giant, including the 2015 Champions League alongside Neymar.

That was the last time Messi won Europe’s elite trophy and, somewhat ironically, his last goal for Barca in the Champions League was a brilliant strike away to PSG last season in the round of 16.

The 34-year-old Messi, who led his nation to the Copa America title last month, joined PSG three weeks ago after his new contract with Barcelona fell through.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was named in the starting lineup as Real Madrid tries to sign him before the end of the summer transfer window.

Mbappe had already scored both goals before Messi came on.

He headed in Angel Di Maria’s cross in the 15th minute and then turned in Achraf Hakimi’s cross in the 63rd for his 135th goal since joining PSG in 2017.

“No, I wasn’t surprised by his enthusiasm,” said Pochettino, who did not comment on Mbappe’s immediate future.
For it remains to be seen whether it’s his last for PSG, which has started the season with four straight wins and has 12 points.

OTHER MATCHES

French champion Lille and Monaco finally won their first games of the season.

Yusuf Yazici and Jonathan David scored as Lille beat Montpellier 2-1, and Sofiane Diop grabbed both goals as Monaco bounced back with a 2-1 win at Troyes.

Angers remains unbeaten and has 10 points after beating Rennes 2-0 at home.

Also, it was: Lens 2, Lorient 2; Strasbourg 3, Brest 1; Clermont 2, Metz 2.

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Real Madrid to announce Kylian Mbappe signing on Friday

Real Madrid are reportedly closing in on the signing of Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

After it emerged that the La Liga giants had made a formal bid for the player earlier this week, the two clubs exchanged words which suggested that finalising a deal would prove difficult.

However, Los Blancos are said to have improved their bid to €170m (£145.87m) plus €10m (£8.58m), terms which will realistically have to be considered by their PSG counterparts.

According to Marca, the French club will formally accept that offer on Friday, creating the possibility of an announcement from Real later in the day.

Given Mbappe’s well-documented desire to make the switch to the Bernabeu, personal terms are expected to be a formality.

The 22-year-old has less than 12 months remaining on his contract at Parc des Princes, effectively forcing PSG’s hand when it came to parting ways with their former most prized asset

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Florentino Perez: Paris Saint-Germain issued rude response to Kylian Mbappe bid

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said that Paris Saint-Germain issued a ‘rude’ response to the Spanish club’s offer for Kylian Mbappe.

The France international has told PSG that he wants to leave the club before the end of the transfer window, and Los Blancos are believed to have made an offer in the region of £137m for his services.

Perez has revealed that the Ligue 1 giants ‘answered rudely’ when the offer was made, as PSG are believed to be holding out for a much higher fee than the offer said to have been placed on the table.

“They [PSG] have already answered and rudely,” Perez told Spanish journalist Jose Manuel Moreno.

Mbappe has scored 133 goals and registered 63 assists in 174 appearances for PSG since making the move from Monaco, initially on loan, in the summer of 2017.

The 22-year-old’s current deal at Parc des Princes is due to expire next June, meaning that he would be free to negotiate a pre-contract with foreign clubs in January 2022 if he remains in Paris beyond the deadline.

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Mauricio Pochettino confident of keeping Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has said that he is planning for Kylian Mbappe to stay at the club for the 2021-22 campaign.

The France international’s future remains the subject of much speculation, with his contract in Paris due to expire next June.

Real Madrid continue to be credited with an interest in the World Cup winner, although the Spanish outfit’s financial issues will make it difficult for them to sign him before the end of the transfer window.

Pochettino has insisted that the 22-year-old “is motivated” at the club, and the head coach is not expecting to lose the attacker over the next couple of weeks.

“I see that he [Mbappe] is motivated, working hard to making this a great season,” Pochettino told reporters. “He is our player and I don’t see him not being here this season.

“He has a year left on his contract, even if he doesn’t renew it, and he has demonstrated to me that he is happy with us here. He is calm and the club knows what they’re going to do. We know he is our player and that he is preparing for our match tomorrow.”

Mbappe has scored 132 goals and registered 63 assists in 173 appearances for PSG since arriving from Monaco, initially on loan, in July 2017.

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Paris Saint-Germain want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo next summer to play alongside Lionel Messi

Paris Saint-Germain will reportedly move for Cristiano Ronaldo next summer, with the French giants desperate to pair the Portugal international with Lionel Messi at Parc des Princes.

Messi completed a move to the French capital on a free transfer earlier this week, with Barcelona unable to sign the Argentine to a new deal due to their financial problems.

According to AS, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is now planning to sign Ronaldo, who could be a direct replacement for Kylian Mbappe in Paris.

Mbappe’s contract with Mauricio Pochettino’s side is due to expire next June, and Real Madrid are said to be at the head of the queue for the France international.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, will be out of contract with Juventus at the end of next season, with the former Sporting Lisbon youngster potentially becoming available on a free transfer.

The report claims that the 36-year-old’s agent Jorge Mendes has already been in discussions with PSG over a two-year contract at the club.

Ronaldo was strongly linked with a move away from Juventus earlier this summer but now looks set to spend one more season in Turin before seeking pastures new.

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Lionel Messi accepts Paris Saint-Germain contract

Lionel Messi has agreed to sign for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial two-year deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Les Parisiens have been considered the frontrunners for the 34-year-old’s signature since he voiced his desire to leave Barcelona last summer, although it was his intention to pen a new deal at Camp Nou this time around.

However, financial obstacles prevented Messi from extending his glittering spell in Catalonia, and PSG’s main rivals in the race for the attacker – Manchester City – were not considering a move for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner this summer.

PSG were understood to have tabled a two-year contract to Messi’s entourage, and transfer insider Romano claims that the Argentine has now accepted the Ligue 1 side’s offer.

Romano adds that Messi will soon fly to Paris to put pen to paper on the deal until 2023 with the option of another 12 months, and he will pocket around €35m (£29.6m) per year with Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Manchester United were rumoured to have been preparing a last-ditch attempt to tempt Messi to Old Trafford, but it appears that the Red Devils have lost out in the race for his services.

Messi won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his 16-year spell in Barcelona’s first team, racking up 672 goals and 305 assists from 778 appearances.

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PSG CONFIDENT IN SIGNING LIONEL MESSI, HOPE TO COMPLETE DEAL WITHIN THE WEEK

Paris St Germain are confident signing Lionel Messi would be profitable in the long run and hope to complete a deal within a week, the PA news agency understands.

Barcelona announced on Thursday night that the Argentina superstar would be leaving the Nou Camp, with financial restrictions preventing them from offering him a new contract.

LaLiga has a salary cap, calculated based on a club’s financial health, which was reduced in November in the wake of the financial pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Barca have been hit hard.

PSG were understood to initially be of the view that a deal could not be done when the announcement came, but sources close to the matter say a direct approach from Messi to PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino later on Thursday changed the dynamic.

Overnight the French club undertook a commercial analysis and determined that signing Messi would work within the confines of Financial Fair Play rules.

The personal connection between Messi and fellow Argentinian Pochettino and the fact the deal is a free transfer are both factors in PSG pursuing the deal.

They believe Messi’s signing would drive up their commercial revenues, both in Europe and in South America should he link up with Brazilian star Neymar.

The French club had been in contact with Barcelona earlier in the summer regarding Messi but thought the chance to sign him had passed when it was indicated he would be staying in Catalonia.

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LILLE EDGE PSG TO WIN FRENCH CHAMPIONS TROPHY

Portuguese midfielder Xeka scored the only goal as Ligue 1 champion Lille beat Cup winner Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions Trophy on Sunday.

The win gives Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec a trophy in his first game since replacing Christophe Galtier.

Galtier guided Lille to one of the biggest upsets in French soccer but then left to join Nice, with Gourvennec taking over at Lille in the offseason and helping the northern club win the trophy for the first time.

Xeka settled a tight game in Tel Aviv with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Keylor Navas and found the top corner just before halftime.

Lille beat and drew against PSG last season without conceding a goal, and kept another clean sheet this time despite selling France backup goalkeeper Mike Maignan to AC Milan.

The French league begins on Friday.

PSG visits promoted Troyes on Saturday and Lille is at Metz on Sunday.

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I DIDN’T FEEL LOVED AND APPRECIATED – GINI WIJNALDUM SPEAKS ON LIVERPOOL EXIT.

Georginio Wijnaldum has opened up about the reasons for his departure from Liverpool this summer and said he didn’t “feel loved and appreciated” by some at the club.

Wijnaldum, 30, joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after his contract at Anfield expired following five years with the Premier League club.

The midfielder played a key role in helping Liverpool win the 2019 Champions League as well as the club’s first ever Premier League title the following year but said he didn’t feel valued by some members.

“There was a moment when I didn’t feel loved and appreciated,” he told reporters. “Not my teammates, not the people at Melwood [training ground].

“From them I know, I can say they all love me and I love them. It was not from that side. More the other side.”

Wijnaldum was given a guard of honour in his final game at Liverpool after they claimed a 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace to secure a top four finish last season.

He was applauded by the playing and coaching staff and received a huge ovation from the Liverpool supporters but said he didn’t feel appreciated by some fans online.

“I have to say also there was social media,” he added. “When it went bad, I was the player who they blamed — that I wanted to leave. Every day in training and in the games, I gave everything I had to bring it to a good end because, during the years, Liverpool meant so much to me and because of the way the fans in the stadium were treating me.

“My feeling was that the fans in the stadium and the fans on social media were two different kinds. The fans in the stadium always supported me. Even when they came back [after the COVID-19 break], already knowing that I was going to leave, they still supported me and, in the end, they gave me a great farewell.

“On social media, if we lost, I was the one who got the blame. There was a moment when I was like: ‘Wow. If they only knew what I was doing to stay fit and play every game.’

“Other players might have said: ‘OK, I am not fit.’ You get players in their last year who are like: ‘I’m not playing because it is a risk.’ I did the opposite.”

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ITALY GOALKEEPER GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA SIGNS FIVE YEAR DEAL AT PSG

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has signed for Paris St Germain on a five-year deal.

The 22-year-old joins PSG after reaching the end of his contract with AC Milan, with whom he had been since 2013.

Donnarumma was handed his Milan debut aged 16 in 2015 and ended up making over 200 Serie A appearances for them.

Confirmation of his move to PSG comes three days on from Donnarumma, holder of 33 senior caps, helping Italy win Euro 2020 and being named player of the tournament.

His efforts included keeping three clean sheets and saving one penalty in the shootout in the semi-finals against Spain and then two more in the one that settled Sunday’s final as the Azzurri got the better of England at Wembley.

Donnarumma said in quotes on PSG’s official website: “I am very happy to be part of this great club that is Paris St Germain.

“I feel ready to take on this new challenge, and continue to grow here. With Paris, I want to win as much as possible and give joy to the supporters.”

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: “We are pleased to welcome Gianluigi Donnarumma to Paris St Germain.

“We congratulate him on his victory at Euro 2020, and his title as the best player of the competition.

“I know Gianluigi will receive a warm welcome from everyone at the club, including his teammates, our staff and all the Parisian support.”