The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Paris Saint-Germain

  • Kluivert’s son Shane signs a clothing deal at nine  

    Kluivert’s son Shane signs a clothing deal at nine  

     

    Patrick Kluivert’s son has become the youngest European sportsperson to sign a clothing contract with Nike.

    Shane Kluivert, who is on the books at Paris Saint-Germain, penned the deal with the sportswear company at just nine years of age.

    Thanks to his dad, youngest son Shane has become well known on social media — with Patrick posting videos and photos of his performances online.

    Shane now boasts his own huge fan-base with 122,000 Instagram followers to his name.

    And his seemingly bright future has been picked up by not only the French footballing giants, but the American sports clothing company too — and Patrick could not be happier.

    ‘My son so proud of you, Shane Kluivert,’ Patrick wrote on Instagram. ‘Just signed his first contract with Nike at 9 years.’

    Meanwhile Shane himself expressed his own delight at signing the deal, writing: ‘Very proud signed my first contract with Nike.’

    Companies such as Nike and Adidas use talent identification departments which are designed to earmark promising young players.

    And Shane has signed a ‘young athlete’s deal’, usually reserved for players between 16 and 18, but the PSG prodigy appears to have jumped the gun.

    Another of Patrick’s sons, 18-year-old Justin, is also making waves in the game after turning out for Ajax’s first team last season.

    But both kids will have to go a long way to usurp their old man’s achievements. In a glittering career, Patrick started at Ajax before moving on to the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan, Newcastle and Sevilla.

  • Neymar cleared of tax evasion as PSG tables £450m

    Neymar cleared of tax evasion as PSG tables £450m

     

    Barcelona star Neymar has been cleared of tax evasion charges in his native Brazil, according to his father.

    Neymar Snr said the decision proved there was ‘justice in our country’ and demanded that the 25-year-old player and his family be left in peace.

    The forward was fined £50.7million last year for failing to properly report earnings on his contracts with former club Santos, Barcelona and his sponsorship deals between 2011 and 2014.

    This fine – which included the allegedly unpaid back taxes and interest – was halved on appeal in March this year.

    However, a parallel case concerning the evasion of Brazilian taxes on his 2013 transfer to Barcelona remained open – until now.

    ‘It is with great joy that we received the news of the termination of proceedings regarding the complaint on tax evasion directed by the Federal Public Ministry,’ Neymar Snr said in a statement.

    ‘The proceeding is officially closed, thus it proves the lawfulness of every action we took.

    ‘During four years of unfounded accusations me, my family and our employees suffered a lot and in every possible way. But albeit lots of people doubt, there’s justice in our country.

    ‘Accusation by accusation, one after the other, they were all defeated by our defense, leaving it clear that we did not evade not one penny in taxes.

    ‘Now I hope we can focus only  our jobs, and that I and my family can have the peace we deserve.’

    With this distraction out of the way, Neymar can now concentrate on his future at Barcelona amid serious interest from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal that would shatter the world transfer record.

    Cash-rich PSG would be prepared to pay £196m to trigger the release clause in Neymar’s Barcelona contract and would offer wages of £500,000-a-week over a six-year contract. The deal would cost the French club as much as £450m in total.

  • PSG ready to pay €135m for Mbappe

    PSG ready to pay €135m for Mbappe

     

    Paris Saint-Germain have indicated to Monaco that they are prepared to pay upwards of €135 million to bring Kylian Mbappe back to the city of his birth this summer, a source close to the club has told ESPN FC.

    PSG sporting director Antero Henrique has spent his first few weeks at Parc des Princes dealing with a number of internal issues, notably fighting alongside chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi to keep Marco Verratti amid interest from Barcelona.

    However, the source has revealed that Henrique has also redrawn a list of summer transfer targets and Mbappe now figures more prominently than he did when now departed duo Olivier Letang and Patrick Kluivert were handling recruitment.

    Before Henrique’s arrival, the former French champions wanted Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nice’s Jean Michael Seri and Valencia’s Jose Luis Gaya but those targets are no longer pursued.

    Since Henrique took up office, the source says PSG now have Monaco’s Mbappe and Fabinho, as targets, along with AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro and Real Madrid’s Pepe.

    The source added that despite the recent furore surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid future, PSG have been sceptical since the start as to whether he will actually be on the market this summer.

    Not only does Henrique have a number of internal issues to resolve, such as Verratti’s future, Marquinhos’ contract extension, and a potential new deal for Adrien Rabiot, he must also bring in some new faces.

    In an effort to realise Oryx Qatar Sports Investments’ (QSI) dream of a team capable of winning the Champions League, the source added that Henrique has stuck to the project’s original claim of wanting “the new Lionel Messi” by targeting Mbappe.

    Henrique has twice spoken with the Mbappe’s father Wilfried — notably when both attended the friendly game between France and England at Stade de France.

    Several sides have been linked with Mbappe, 18, but PSG are one of the few clubs who could meet the asking price Monaco want for their star talent and the source said the Qatari-owned giants have reminded their Ligue 1 rivals about this.

    The €135m PSG have already indicated they are prepared to pay would be a new world record sum in itself but they could still go higher — or include one of their players in part exchange — in order to land somebody who they think could rejuvenate their chances of winning major honours.

    The source understands Real Madrid and Arsenal have presented convincing arguments for Mbappe to join them but that the lure of a potential hometown return, not to mention coach Unai Emery’s enthusiastic view of the teenager, also holds significant appeal.

    PSG are said to have even discussed the possibility of financing an Mbappe family reunion — in the same way they did for Giovani Lo Celso’s family — by bringing Kylian and his brother Ethan, 11, back to the Paris region together as the younger brother is also on Monaco’s books.

    The source acknowledged that Mbappe has already indicated to potential suitors — including PSG — that he would be happy to spend next season at Monaco ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Monaco’s transfer business so far this summer sees them in a position to keep Mbappe and offer him improved terms. The France international is currently reflecting on the different offers he has available to him while on holiday but PSG’s interest is very real.

  • Pepe says goodbye to Real Madrid fans

    Pepe says goodbye to Real Madrid fans

     

    Pepe has written a heartfelt farewell note to Real Madrid after confirming his 10-year Santiago Bernabeu stay will soon come to an end.

    The combative central defender revealed on Monday he would not be extending his stay when his contract expires this month, having only been offered a deal for one more year instead of the two he was hoping for.

    He has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, while rumours of a Premier League switch also abound, but on Tuesday the Portugal international was in the mood for nostalgia.

    The 34-year-old wrote on Instagram: “On July 12, 2007 I arrived at Real Madrid with the illusion of a boy who arrived where he had dreamed every day of his childhood.

    “Today, 10 years later, I have to stop wearing this badge. Every day I wore this shirt, I did it with the illusion of always.

    “Today I can only thank all of you who have supported me, that you have written this beautiful story with me. Thanks to each one of you, who accompanied me. Thanks to all the friends and colleagues I know will stay wherever I go.

    “I say goodbye also to this city, which has seen the birth and growth of my daughters. I am very happy for what I have achieved and I will carry your affection in the heart!

    “And I say it again … The best of these 10 years ??? To train every day, to live with each and every one of the employees of this club … Treading the Santiago Bernabeu and feeling your support was always magic!

    “In my heart I keep your affection, and this feeling of duty fulfilled … Real Madrid and your affection will always be part of my history, my life! Thanks and Until Always! “.

    Pepe won three LaLiga titles with Madrid and a hat-trick of Champions League winners’ medals.

    He was often criticised for his perceived ill-discipline on the field, which did little to win favour with neutrals, but he remains a popular figure among Los Blancos fans.

  • Marquinhos reduced to tears as wife reveals pregnancy

    Marquinhos reduced to tears as wife reveals pregnancy

     

    Paris Saint-Germain may be falling just short of the Ligue 1 title this season, but off the pitch defender Marquinhos’ life is going from strength to strength.

    The young Brazil defender is now expecting his first child, finding out the news in an emotional moment caught on camera at the weekend.

    In a video posted to wife Carol Cabrino’s Instagram, Marquinhos walks into the bathroom of their home to find a message written on the mirror.

    Next to the mirror are red and white balloons, as well as a love heart made from red stones, with a pair of tiny shoes sitting in the middle.

    Marquinhos turned 23 at the weekend, but had more than just his birthday to celebrate with his partner of almost four years.

    When he found out, the PSG star burst into tears almost instantly, with Cabrino following seconds later as the pair embraced with their dog.

    Cabrino, clearly delighted with the news herself, also shared a long heartfelt message about her beau alongside the video.

    ‘We did everything the way we wanted to, right?’ she wrote. ‘We met, we dated, we married… And now we’re at our best stage, pregnant! (And the month we wanted!!)

    Marquinhos’ girlfriend Carol Cabrino wrote a message on the bathroom mirror to reveal the birth. It said:

    ‘Congratulations daddy. Now we are three hearts. We love you more than everything.’

    ‘Our tune is so great that when I “try” to explain it’s kind of impossible to describe in detail what we feel amid these almost 4 years. And we already knew after the third month it was meant to be, right?

    ‘God has done everything so well that today the only thing I can do is thank you for crossing my path. For having this gift and honor to learn everything I learn at your side.

    On the pitch this season, Marquinhos has played 38 times, impressing at the heart of the Parisians’ defence.

    He has even improved his goalscoring ratio in the last few weeks, netting twice in two games to help his side out.

  • Wenger denies contract offer from PSG

    Wenger denies contract offer from PSG

     

     

     

    Arsene Wenger has formally denied being offered a contract by Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain – rejecting the notion as ‘fake news’ – with the Arsenal boss still yet to announce whether he will be in charge at the Emirates Stadium next season.

    The 67-year-old has kept the footballing world guessing if he will sign a new contract with the Gunners, but declared after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion that he has made up his mind.

    The Frenchman has previously said if he is to end his two decade association with Arsenal he intends to manage elsewhere, with PSG the logical move given their wealth and the stuttering form under current coach Unai Emery.

    Yet Wenger insists he has not been approached by the Parisians, who were in Arsenal’s Champions League group this season.

    Using a popular phrase from United States president Donald Trump, Wenger told BeIN Sports: ‘It is a false rumour, that is what you call ‘fake news’. I formally deny it, it is not true.’

    The loss at the Hawthorns was Arsenal’s fourth in their last five Premier League games and they now sit sixth in the table.

    Wenger has increasingly split the Arsenal fan base with protests organised before recent matches and two planes flown over the West Brom game carrying conflicting messages – one of support for the manager, and one against any new deal being signed.

  • Barcelona  gear up for mission impossible

    Barcelona  gear up for mission impossible

     

    The task in front of them is substantial and as such it wasn’t a surprise that Barcelona’s Tuesday training session was a solemn affair.

    The Catalans are preparing for Wednesday’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and the daunting prospect of having to overhaul a four-goal deficit in 90 minutes at the Nou Camp.

    With that in mind, there was barely a smile or a smirk to be seen as the players were put through their paces at the Joan Gamper facility.

    Star forwards Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all featured, with head coach Luis Enrique watching on as he tries to come up with a masterplan to rescue their European season.

    Enrique, who recently announced his intentions to quit the club at the end of the current campaign, watched his team ripped apart in Paris three weeks ago.

    Angel di Maria scored twice while Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani also found the back of the net as the French side romped to a 4-0 first-leg success in the last-16 tie.

    No team has ever recovered from a four-goal first-leg deficit to progress in the Champions League and Enrique will be aiming to turn history on its head at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

    The Spaniard still believes, at least publicly, that his team can complete their mission impossible.

    ‘We will try and fight until the end, showing the qualities we have shown in our matches in the past few weeks. Our challenge against PSG is to prove we’re better than them and that we can repay our debts in 90 minutes.’

  • Messi arrives Egypt for anti-Hepatitis campaign

    Messi arrives Egypt for anti-Hepatitis campaign

    Argentine footballer Lionel Messi arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to promote a new treatment for Hepatitis C virus, a source at Cairo International Airport told newsmen.

    “The visit was deemed as part of “Tour n’ Cure” international tourism initiative launched under the slogan of “For a World Free of Virus C,’’ it said.

    The source also noted that Messi arrived at Cairo West International Airport, making him stay near the Pyramids of Giza and close to the nearby Mena House Hotel where he would show up for a ceremony.

    The soccer superstar, who plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona, or “Barca,” was scheduled to arrive in Egypt last week but the trip was delayed after his team suffered an overnight massive 0-4 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

    Reports say that the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism pins hopes on Messi’s “historic visit” to be one of the steps towards enhancing the tourism sector in Egypt that has been suffering recession over the past few years.

    “Such visits by international public figures, undoubtedly, pour in favour of Egypt and serve its tourism sector significantly,’’ the Egyptian ministry said in a previous statement.

  • Arsenal 2-2 PSG: Iwobi scores own goal in Gunners draw

    Arsenal 2-2 PSG: Iwobi scores own goal in Gunners draw

    Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi scored an own goal as Arsenal dropped down to second place in Group A after being held to a 2-2 draw by Paris Saint-Germain.

    A win for Arsene Wenger’s side would have ensured that they would take their place among the seeds when the draw for the knockout stages is made next month but a late own goal from Alex Iwobi left the Premier League side facing the prospect of finishing as runners-up.

    During the second half against Manchester United on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal scored with their only shot on goal and history repeated itself during the opening 45 minutes on Wednesday night.

    After Blaise Matuidi had been set free down the left-hand side of the penalty area, he crossed for Edinson Cavani who slid in at the back post to tap home from three yards.

    It was a goal which should have led to a response from the home team but they toiled against the French champions and it was PSG’s own doing that they did not reach half time with a one-goal advantage.

    After Gregorz Krychowiak had brought down Alexis Sanchez in the penalty area, Olivier Giroud stepped up to fire his spot kick into the corner to undeservedly get his team back on level terms.

    The same pattern of play continued after the restart before PSG came agonisingly close to retaking the lead when Lucas Moura’s 25-yard free kick hit the crossbar with Ospina beaten.

    For the following 15 minutes, the Gunners did an effective job in stifling the visitors but as the game entered the closing stages, PSG found an equaliser when Moura’s header was deflected into his own net by Iwobi.

    However, as Arsenal tired during the closing stages, it mattered little as PSG comfortably held on to leave their fate in their own hands when they face Ludogorets in Paris in two weeks’ time.

  • Laurent Blanc quits PSG

    Laurent Blanc quits PSG

    After three seasons at the head of the first team, Laurent Blanc left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Monday.

    This was contained in the club’s website.

    According to the club, Balnc’s exit follows a respectful atmosphere as negotiations and agreement were completed on 27 June.

    Assistant coach C and head fitness trainer Philippe Lambert, also leave the club as part of the agreement.

    As the club decides to head in a new direction for the management of the first team, it wishes to thank Laurent Blanc and expresses its gratitude for the work accomplished over the last three years by Laurent and his staff.

    During his three years at the club, Laurent Blanc won 11 trophies, including two national quadruples, and left a significant mark on the great history of Paris Saint-Germain.

     “As we embark on a new chapter in the development of the club, I would like to thank Laurent Blanc for everything he has achieved over the last three years, both in terms of the playing style and results, declared Paris Saint-Germain Chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. I wish him the best for his future challenges,” the club stated.