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New Direction at Paris Saint-Germain: The End of Bling-Bling – Sport

The work and work of the Brazilian striker Neymar Jr. is considered extremely eventful and eventful. But it was rarely as turbulent as last week, especially in the literal sense. His Embraer Legacy 450, a €15 million private jet, made an emergency landing returning from a vacation in northern Brazil; Neymar spoke afterwards of a “big shock”. The incident could help situate that other turmoil that Neymar is now – figuratively – embroiled in. Neymar’s employer Paris Saint-Germain is apparently so tired of the Brazilian that, according to Radio Monte Carlo, he is said to have suggested he leave.

It’s been almost five years since PSG bought Neymar, who is now 30, from FC Barcelona. But the dream of the Qatari PSG owners, winning the Champions League, never came as close to PSG in this five-year period as in the summer of 2020, when the French, who were coached by Thomas Tuchel at the time, lost the final in Lisbon against FC Bayern 0-1, which makes sense through a goal by former PSG youth player Kingsley Coman.

Tuchel left – among other things, to win the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. PSG continued to expand their squad regardless of prizes and maintenance costs. Goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas arrived from Milan and Madrid respectively, while two legends from Spain joined in the summer: Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi. The great success was still missing. Last season, the Champions League ended in the round of 16 – against Real Madrid. The symbol of failure was also and above all Neymar.

Zinedine Zidane was the preferred candidate for PSG – but he is speculating on the post of national coach

In any case, the statements that PSG boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi made these days in an interview with the newspaper could not be interpreted otherwise The Parisian made. “We don’t want any more swanky or bling-bling. It’s over with sequins now,” he said. Hardly any player had more affairs than Neymar, hardly anyone fulfilled his duties as an employee less reliably than he did. Last year he made 28 competitive appearances, missing 22 times through injuries and suspensions; he’s a few pounds away from his ideal fighting weight. For years he has been seen as a player who undermines the work ethic. Basically, every PSG coach since 2017 has complained that the owners consider Neymar more important than the club.

The announcement of a move away from glitz and glamor might not be taken too literally, but a few personal details suggest that PSG are trying to break a dogma – that big names (and big money) mean big success vouch That has, how ironicto do with the most expensive contract extension in football history.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino (right) was told at the championship celebration that he had to go.

(Photo: Enric Fontcuberta / Imago / EFE Agency)

A few weeks ago, PSG – with the help of France’s Emmanuel Macron – managed to tie Kylian Mbappé to the club until 2025. Despite being courted by Real Madrid. Even then it was said that Mbappé, 23, had been assured that he would have a say in filling key positions – which he publicly denied, of course.

However, the consequences could be assessed quickly. Brazilian PSG manager Leonardo was sacked and replaced by 57-year-old Portuguese Luis Campos, who became Mbappé’s confidant at AS Monaco and had most recently worked for OSC Lille. There was also a change in the question of coaching, in which Mbappé’s new power is said to have played a role.

Tuchel successor Mauricio Pochettino was told at the championship celebration that he was going to persona non grata had become despite a 17-point lead over second-placed Olympique Marseille, the championship title wasn’t nearly enough. Real Madrid’s ex-coach Zinédine Zidane, 50, was considered PSG’s preferred candidate. But France’s legend canceled; He is said to want to wait until world champion coach Didier Deschamps, 53, vacates his coaching position with the French national team – which should be the case after the World Cup in Qatar.

The solution PSG found is actually not looking Bling-Bling from: Christophe Galtier, 55, a recognized professional who last trained at OGC Nice (where he has just been replaced by Lucien Favre, 64).

While Favre started work on Monday, Galtier still has to wait. Pochettino’s lawyers are still negotiating a contract termination with PSG. The Argentinian has so far shown no inclination to give up a cent of the outstanding annual salary of allegedly 15 million euros net.

PSG wants to lend Neymar if necessary – and in case of doubt help finance his absurdly high salary

The outlines of which workforce Galtier will meet in Paris can at best be seen. The 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder Vitinha (FC Porto) is said to be a definite signing; Slovak centre-back Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan) is reportedly on the shopping list, as is Renato Sanches, now 24, who has blossomed after a disappointing spell at Bayern Munich in Lille.

Of course, the names that are traded as possible departures alongside the Argentinian Ángel Di María, 34, who has already been dismissed, are far more resonant. Forward Pablo Sarabia, 30, most recently on loan at Sporting Lisbon, falls into this category, as does Sergio Ramos, 36, and Thiago Alcántara’s little brother Rafinha, 29; as well as the Argentinian national player Leandro Paredes, 27, the Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum, 31, and the DFB national players Thilo Kehrer, 25, and Julian Draxler, 28. The two Germans were killed on Tuesday by the Gazzetta dello Sport traded as possible purchases by Italian champions AC Milan.

There are high hurdles for almost all of them: they earn very well. Of course, that applies even more to Neymar. The services of what was once the most expensive footballer on the planet are said to cost PSG (and Qatar) almost 40 million euros net per year – and Neymar’s contract with PSG has just been extended by a clause until 2027. Neymar does not want to give up money either, for which PSG is said to have shown understanding. The newspaper The country reported on Tuesday that PSG have signaled to Neymar that they want to help him find a new job – paying part of the salary if necessary.

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