Women’s French Cup / Paris Saint-Germain – Yzeure / It’s not just Mbappé: Katoto, the other anxiety of PSG

She will have the opportunity to win a fourth trophy with PSG. It may be the last. Marie-Antoinette Katoto could well live her last weeks with Paris. Her lifelong club, with which the 23-year-old striker is preparing to play in the Coupe de France final on Sunday, against Yzeure. She will be the number one asset in the quest for a title to save the season for the Parisian team, left behind by Lyon in the league and eliminated by OL in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Katoto is the other key issue for the future of PSG. The one concerning Kylian Mbappé vampirizes much more the news of the capital club. A departure of the former Monegasque, coveted by Real Madrid, would clearly leave a big void in the men’s team. The situation would not be much different if Katoto left the women’s section. She is in a similar situation to Mbappé, with a contract expiring in June and negotiations for an extension unsuccessful so far.

“We totally disagree”

The French international (28 caps, 24 goals) cast a chill over the capital in early April when discussing her future at PSG. “For the moment, we are not at all in agreement with the club, for several reasons and they know itshe had launched. There are several reasons why we disagree. Afterwards, I read and I hear things since I arrived at PSG, there are a lot of words, for the moment there is no action.It will be settled very, very quickly, but for the moment we are in total disagreement.”

29 buts en 31 matches

This did not prevent her from signing a still dazzling season. Like Mbappé, author of 35 goals and 24 assists in all competitions this season, Katoto has statistics that speak volumes about his monumental influence in Paris. She is the club’s top scorer in D1 Arkéma, with 18 goals, in the Champions League with 7 goals and in the Coupe de France with 4 goals. She has thus totaled 29 goals in 31 matches in all competitions this season and has almost averaged one goal per match.

A season like his career at PSG so far. Katoto is now at 145 goals in the colors of Paris. Beyond the numbers, his impact in the game through his speed, his instinct and his athletic dimension make him one of the world references in his position. “It’s the best in Europesaid his former coach Patrice Lair before the semi-final first leg of the Champions League against Lyon. She is complete, her progress is crazy, she has found confidence. The Parisian project depends on whether it is extended or not, that says it all.”

Barça and OL on the lookout

A bit like Mbappé then. And if she were to leave, she would also leave a big void at PSG. “MAK” is its icon. She’s a kid from the club. The native of Colombes has been wearing the colors since the age of 12, she has spent her entire career there up to the first team. She imposed herself there as the strong individuality, the one who allowed the club of the capital to break the hegemony of Lyon last season by winning the title of champion of France. First of all, it was the work of a collective. But the one who sublimated it is indeed Katoto.

And if Paris will probably have to fight to keep it, it is also because it is very coveted. Barcelona are following her very closely. And the possible extension of Vivianne Miedema at Arsenal, according to British media, could push the Barcelona leaders to intensify their efforts to recruit the Parisian in the event of failure on the track leading to the Dutchwoman. An opportunity that OL also intends to seize to strengthen with a leading attacker, while plucking their main rival in France. PSG can pray. In one summer, he could lose his best player and his best player.