Transfer Window Recap: Mbappé Stays at PSG, Saudi Arabia’s Spending Spree, OM’s Changes, and More

The French PSG built around Mbappé

Lionel Messi left for Miami, Neymar joined Al-Hilal. But PSG has not lost all its stars. Because even if he found himself at the heart of an intense summer soap opera, his club categorically refusing to see him go free in 2024, Kylian Mbappé finally stayed in the capital. It must be said that Real Madrid, which is biding its time, did not flinch and it was hard to imagine Nasser al-Khelaïfi, despite a speech that was intended to be firm, depriving Luis Enrique of his main weapon indefinitely.

This season, the captain of the Blues will evolve in an offensive sector with a strong French accent, its leaders having enlisted Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and, narrowly, Randal Kolo Muani. With a workforce also reinforced by Lucas Hernandez (another tricolor international), Manuel Ugarte or Gonçalo Ramos, we say that Paris will have, this year again, assets to put forward in Europe.

Paris, Kolo Muani at all costs? “It fills a need”

Saudi Arabia’s Unprecedented Offensive

In the past, the United States, Qatar or China had also shaken up the market by offering lucrative contracts. However, this was out of all proportion to Saudi Arabia’s strategy. Six months after attracting Cristiano Ronaldo, the powerful oil monarchy of the Gulf has not skimped on the means to attract many players from the Old Continent to its clubs. With, it must be recognized, a convincing success.

Admittedly, many of those who have decided to take the plunge are at the twilight of their careers, or not far off (Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez, etc.). Others, such as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Gabri Veiga – only 21 years old – however had enough to shine in the top leagues for quite a while yet. The Saudis are rubbing their hands, but we tend to think that the European formations are also winners in the case: they have cashed nice checks, have offloaded some big salaries and freed up space for their young talents. A win-win deal?

Fofana to Saudi Arabia: Lens and “the success that kills”

At OM, a great stir and a page that turns

It is well known, Pablo Longoria is not the type to remain calm during the transfer window. The Olympian president was however particularly active and inventive this summer, both in terms of arrivals (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ismaïla Sarr, Geoffrey Kondogbia, to name a few) and in terms of departures, where he employed to find a way out for undesirables… and for players who, in their own way, have embodied OM in recent years.

We think of Mattéo Guendouzi, on loan to Lazio. We especially think of Dimitri Payet, whose contract was terminated and who flew to Brazil. The Reunionese could not hold back his tears when saying goodbye. A strong image, which perhaps symbolizes the end of an era on the Canebière.

Guendouzi sold off: “OM shot themselves in the foot”

Kane, the big leap away from England

It was time for Harry Kane, whose track record is still hopelessly blank, to take flight and leave Tottenham. Seeing him land at Bayern Munich after long weeks of negotiations was however a surprise. Because the Bavarian club, which dropped 100 million euros to complete this file, is not one to be expensive. And because the English are not in the habit of expatriating themselves. This union nevertheless has everything to be a hit and will be to be followed closely.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Credit: Imago

OL, a transfer window with bits of string

For his first summer market at the head of OL, John Textor certainly wanted to show ambition. He quickly became disillusioned. Upset by restrictions imposed by the DNCG, the American businessman had to tinker, going through one of his other clubs, Molenbeek, to bring Ernest Nuamah and snatch the signing of Paul Akouokou in the last moments. Add to that the unexpected sales of two nuggets from the training center (Castello Lukeba and Bradley Barcola), criticism from Laurent Blanc, a calamitous start to the season, an embarrassing pass of arms with Jean-Michel Aulas and you have a summer definitely quite complicated.

Barcola ungrateful with OL? “He is as responsible as Mendes and Textor”

Chelsea’s spending spree continues

The lesson was obviously not learned. While his XXL recruitment in the summer of 2022 and winter 2023 did not prevent him from finishing in a pitiful 12th place in the Premier League, Chelsea again went in all directions between June and August. If we appreciate the effort of the Blues to target, this time, young people with high potential (Roméo Lavia, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu…), we can only sigh at the delirious amounts that have been spent. 116 million euros for Moisés Caicedo, seriously?

Caicedo then Lavia: but why do they all snub Liverpool for Chelsea?

Real and Barça, unusually discreet

Okay, Real Madrid hit hard from the start by offering Jude Bellingham for the tidy sum of 103 million euros. But thereafter, the Merengues have moved very little, except to enlist Kepa Arrizabalaga, as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois (seriously injured). FC Barcelona made even less noise. Only Oriol Romeu (3.40 million euros) required the payment of compensation, since Ilkay Gündogan arrived free and Joao Cancelo and Joao Félix were loaned. That the two greats of Spain are so wise in the summer period is rare.

Has Barça succeeded in its transfer window?

Mendy, surprising return

Impossible to miss. On July 14, Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty of rape and sexual assault by the court in Chester, England. Five days later, the former Marseillais agrees to everyone’s surprise with FC Lorient. Beyond the moral questions surrounding this arrival, inevitably very commented on, there are still doubts about the physical condition of the 2018 world champion, who has not played a single match since August 2021. To see him back on the pitch, he will still have to wait.

The arrival of Mendy, more questions than answers

2023-09-02 09:21:00
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