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Tag: PSG

  • Revealed: why PSG is in hunt for Lookman

    Revealed: why PSG is in hunt for Lookman

    Ademola Lookman , current Atalanta striker , could be in PSG ‘s sights to reinforce their squad for the summer of 2025. The Nigerian player, 27 years old and with a contract until 2026, has caught the attention of the Parisian club, who would be willing to make an offer for him. The starting price would be around 40 million euros, an amount that could be considered an opportunity in the current market, given the quality and versatility of the footballer.

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    Lookman has proven to be a key part of Atalanta’s attacking system, standing out for his speed and ability to break through. His ability to play both on the wings and in more central positions has allowed him to adapt to different styles of play, which has attracted the attention of top-level teams. The possibility of PSG signing him responds to the French club’s need to add dynamism and varied offensive options to their squad, especially in a market where big names are valued at a premium.

    Atalanta, aware of Lookman’s value, are at a crossroads. An offer for a player who has been crucial in their recent campaigns could be tempting, even more so considering that the sale would be made at a competitive price.

  • PSG drag Mbappe to court over wage dispute

    PSG drag Mbappe to court over wage dispute

    Paris St Germain will take their wage dispute with Kylian Mbappe to court after the French football league’s governing body (LFP) ruled in favour of the France captain.

    French media reported the 25-year-old, who has not commented on the dispute, is seeking around 55 million euros ($59.52 million) in salary and bonuses he says he is owed by the club.

    The Ligue 1 champions, however, say Mbappe’s contract was “legally amended” and that he reneged on commitments when he left the club to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in the close season.

    PSG said last month that Mbappe had refused an offer from the LFP to mediate on the issue.

    The LFP’s National Joint Appeals Commission heard the parties on Oct. 15 and announced on Friday it had ruled in favour of Mbappe.

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    “The club must pay him the salary he is claiming. This decision is not subject to appeal, but may be referred to the FFF (French Football Federation) Executive Committee,” the LFP told Reuters.

    However, PSG said they would be “forced to bring the case before the competent courts” while still trying to find an “amicable solution” with Mbappe, who became the French club’s all-time top scorer during his seven-year stay in the capital.

  • UCL: Arteta targets  Arsenal ‘s  first win against PSG

    UCL: Arteta targets  Arsenal ‘s  first win against PSG

    Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s dramatic last-gasp victory against Leicester will help “shape the character” of the team as he prepares for  today’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Gunners scored twice in injury time to win 4-2 on Saturday and finished the weekend third in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Liverpool.

    Arsenal host French champions PSG in a Champions League league-phase match at the Emirates today, seeking their first win in the competition this season after a goalless draw against Atalanta.

    Arsenal manager Arteta was asked at his pre-match press conference about the importance of winning games from different positions – either by dominating games or with last-gasp victories.

     “It shapes the character and the body of the team, that they have the certainty that they can win in any context and adapt to very different contexts during matches,” he said. “The Champions League demands that, you can pretend to play against this kind of opposition and dominate for 95 minutes.

     “But it does not happen at this level so you have to be really good in other phases as well – to stay in the game, to be comfortable and still always have the belief and intention to win it.”

    Arteta is expecting a tough match against the French league leaders, who will be without France forward Ousmane Dembele, according to a source close the club.

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    It appears to be a disciplinary measure following a heated exchange with PSG boss Luis Enrique after Friday’s 3-1 win over Rennes, according to French sports daily L’Equipe.

    Arteta, when asked about the development, said: “We’re going to prepare like we always do with every possibility and let’s see. They have many other options.”

    He added: “They’re really tough. They are exceptional and they dominate every phase of play.

     “They have a very clear intention of how they want to dominate the game through the ball and when they don’t have it, they want it straight back. They are really aggressive with it and they confront you.”

    Arteta, who played for PSG as a young midfielder, said he was a “huge admirer” of Luis Enrique, whose team beat Girona 1-0 in their Champions League opener.

     “An unbelievable personality, huge character, huge energy, always very supportive with young players,” said Arteta. “What I love about him is wherever he’s been, as a player or a manager, his fingerprints are all over the place. You can sense it’s his team the way his players behave, the way they want to attack and dominate games.

     “The spirit, the energy they have, he has this unbelievable power with all the clubs he’s been at, with the Spain national team.”

  • UCL: Enrique to unleash PSG’s young guns on Girona

    UCL: Enrique to unleash PSG’s young guns on Girona

    Paris St Germain’s young team may be less experienced than their previous sides but they are full of energy and primed for success as they begin their Champions League campaign without striker Kylian Mbappe for the first time in seven years.

    After joining the club in 2017 Mbappe helped PSG reach the final in 2020 when they lost to Bayern Munich.

    PSG are set to host Spain’s Champions League debutants Girona tonight boasting an impressive attack with the likes of Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele and new signing Joao Neves, 19, who already has four assists in four league games.

    “I have always wanted my players to be motivated for every game. I can use each of the six forwards we have,” manager Luis Enrique said at his press conference. “They are ready, and we’re a versatile team and it’s great to have all those options because the season is going to be long.

    “We need to create our own stars. We need to adapt, convince the players of the way to play. I’m very motivated and I’m delighted to have the club’s trust and I’m trying to repay them by delivering results. We have a clear project that was set out last season.

    PSG captain Marquinhos added: “We always have the target of going deep into the competition. I think my teammates are the best in the world, even if there are no big names or stars, I am proud of my team.”

    Midfielders Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha have returned from injury, though goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been ruled out with a thigh injury and 25-year-old Russian Matvey Safonov could therefore be handed his first start.

    Spaniard Luis Enrique added that he was pleased with the squad and it was too early to jump to conclusions about their lack of experience.

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    “I don’t put any limits on my players. Experience is important but I see many experienced players making the same mistakes. It’s difficult to calculate the percentage of experience needed,” he added.

    “I think we are selfish as coaches we always want the team to win. It will take a few months and we will see how the team evolves and develops.”

    Luis Enrique heaped praise on Girona coach Michel, who led his team to a third-place finish in LaLiga last season.

    “I must acknowledge that no one expected to see them here. It is their first time but I watched all their games last season, they play great football,” he said.

  • PSG sign Benfica midfielder Neves in £60m deal

    PSG sign Benfica midfielder Neves in £60m deal

    Paris St-Germain have completed the signing of Benfica midfielder Joao Neves in a deal worth up to £60m.

    The 19-year-old Portugal international, who had been linked with Manchester United,, external has signed a five-year contract with the French champions.

    After breaking into the Benfica first team in January last year, he went on to become a key player for his boyhood club, making 75 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals.

    Neves joins PSG as the French club look to move on following the summer departure of star forward Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.

    “Joao is one of most talented players in Portugal and internationally,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

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    “He was so passionate to join Paris St-Germain and determined to fight for the jersey – which is what we expect of all our players.”

    Neves has been capped nine times by Portugal and made two appearances for his country at this summer’s European Championship in Germany, helping them reach the quarter-finals.

    “I’m very proud to be joining Paris St-Germain, a very ambitious club,” he added.

    “I’m going to give my all to help my team-mates, to grow at this fantastic club and to win numerous titles.”

  • Mbappe announces exit from PSG

    Mbappe announces exit from PSG

    France striker Kylian Mbappe said he will leave Paris St-Germain at the end of the season.

    Mbappe, 25, announced the decision in a video released on his social media, external accounts.

    “I’ve always said that I would speak with you when the time comes,” Mbappe said. “It’s my last year at Paris St-Germain. I will not extend and the adventure will come to an end in a few weeks.

    ” Mbappe’s contract with PSG expires in June and BBC Sport reported in February that he has agreed a deal to join Real Madrid in the summer.

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    The World Cup winner is PSG’s record goalscorer with 255 goals and will play his final home game at the Parc des Princes against Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Sunday at 20:00 BST.

    After that PSG have away fixtures at Nice (15 May) and Metz (19 May) before the French Cup final against Lyon at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on 25 May.

    Paris-born Mbappe, who joined PSG from Monaco for £165.7m in August 2017, said the club helped “grow as a player” and “grow as a man as well”.

    He added: “It’s a lot of emotions, many years where I had the chance and the great honour to be a member of the biggest French club, one of the best in the world. “It allowed me to arrive here, to have my first experience in a club with a lot of pressure, to grow as a player of course, by being alongside some of the best in history, some of the greatest champions.

    “It’s hard and I never thought it would be this difficult to announce that. But I think I needed this, a new challenge, after seven years.””

  • UCL: Terzic fancies Dortmund against ‘favourites’ PSG  

    UCL: Terzic fancies Dortmund against ‘favourites’ PSG  

    Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said semi-final opponents Paris Saint-Germain were “built to win the Champions League”, ahead of today’s first leg.

    Terzic said on Tuesday lifting the European Cup has been the “main objective” of PSG since being taken over by Qatar Sports Investments.

     “The project in Paris began with the goal of winning the Champions League,” Terzic told reporters. “That’s been their main objective for a decade.”

    PSG were crowned Ligue 1 champions on Sunday, their 10th league title in the past 12 seasons.

    The domestic dominance has however translated into European silverware. PSG lost the final in 2020 to Bayern Munich.

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    Dortmund, who won the competition in 1997, are playing in the semi-finals for the fifth time in the club’s history and the first time since 2013, when they also lost to Bayern in the final.

    Terzic singled out Kylian Mbappe for particular praise, but said PSG posed an attacking threat across the park.

    “It’s the question you hear the most: ‘How do you stop Kylian Mbappe?’ But if you focus only on Kylian Mbappe, then comes Ousmane Dembele or (Goncalo) Ramos, or Vitinha, or (Achraf) Hakimi, or (Randal) Kolo Muani and all the others,” he said. “They have unbelievable quality.

     “If we want to focus on one thing, then we need to focus on the ball. If we worry about the ball – there’s just one – then it’s much harder for them to score.”

    Dortmund topped a difficult group earlier in the competition featuring PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle, before eliminating PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid to reach the semis.

    “Were we the favourites in the group? Against Atletico Madrid? I don’t know,” Terzic said when asked if his side will be underdogs against Paris.

     “Maybe we’re the team with less experience, but we may have the greatest hunger.

     “When everyone digs in, not just those on the field and on the bench but everyone in the stadium, we’ve got a huge opportunity – and we need to take it.”

    Terzic said several key players, including quarter-final goalscorers Marcel Sabitzer and Sebastien Haller, would be fit to play.

  • PSG  win  12th  title after Monaco defeat

    PSG  win  12th  title after Monaco defeat

    Paris Saint-Germain were confirmed as Ligue 1 champions  without playing after closest challengers Monaco lost 3-2 away to Lyon.

    Monaco’s defeat gave PSG an unassailable 12-point lead at the top of the table with three games remaining and means they are champions for a French record-extending 12th time.

    PSG could have clinched the title on Saturday with a win at home to struggling Le Havre, but in the end they needed a 95th-minute equaliser to snatch a 3-3 draw.

    However, after that game coach Luis Enrique insisted his side had won the league “without any doubt”, as they were 12 points clear with only 12 points left to play for, and also boast a far superior goal difference to that of Monaco.

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    The principality club’s loss in Lyon nevertheless makes PSG’s coronation official, and sets them up for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg away to Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

    Monaco had taken the lead inside the opening minute in Lyon thanks to a Wissam Ben Yedder goal, but Alexandre Lacazette equalised for the hosts and Said Benrahma put them ahead before the half-hour mark.

    Ben Yedder struck again to bring it back to 2-2, only for substitute Malick Fofana to net a late winner for Lyon, who are still hoping to qualify for Europe.

    PSG have won 10 of their 12 titles in the last 12 seasons, a record which goes to show how the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011 has utterly transformed them and the face of French football as a whole.

    They are on course for a clean sweep of trophies this season, with the French Cup final against Lyon to come on May 25 and the French Champions Trophy already in the bag.

    Luis Enrique’s side are also hoping to see off Dortmund and win through to the final of the Champions League on June 1.

  • Four PSG players suspended after anti-gay chants

    Four PSG players suspended after anti-gay chants

    Paris Saint-Germain players Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi and Layvin Kurzawa have been handed one-match suspensions for their role in anti-gay chants, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (IFL) said on Thursday.

    During last month’s Ligue 1 match against Marseille at the Parc des Princes, PSG fans were heard celebrating with anti-gay chants directed at Marseille.

    French sports daily L’Equipe said PSG players were also involved in offensive chanting.

    The LFP handed the players suspended one-match suspensions effective from Oct. 10 and decided to close the Auteuil stand at the Parc des Princes for two matches, one of which was suspended.

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    “The club regrets that the Disciplinary Commission has opted for an excessive and collective measure, likely to undermine the work of dialogue and prevention undertaken by the Club with associations, institutions and fans,” PSG said in a statement, adding that they will not appeal.

    The players later apologised, saying they got “carried away by the euphoria” of the victory.

    “We’re well aware of the impact of our gestures and words on the public, especially the younger ones who dream of watching a soccer match,” they wrote in social media posts.

    “We sincerely regret the words we should not have spoken and wish to apologise. In the future, we will do our utmost to be even more exemplary.”

  • PSG again made to wait for Ligue 1 title after Nantes defeat

    Paris St-Germain (PSG) missed another opportunity to seal their eighth French Ligue 1 title when their much-changed side were beaten 2-3 at strugglers Nantes on Wednesday.

    Victory would have put PSG out of reach at the top of the standings with six games left, but Dani Alves’s opener was cancelled out by Diego Carlos.

    Then, Majeed Waris and an own goal by Alves gave the Canaries all three points at La Beaujoire.

    PSG’s Metehan Guclu reduced the arrears a minute from full-time in his maiden Ligue 1 appearance.

    It was an embarrassing performance from runaway leaders PSG, who have 81 points from 32 games and lead second-placed Lille by 17 points.

    Thomas Tuchel’s side, who have now picked up only one point from their last three Ligue 1 outings, will be crowned champions on Sunday if they beat Monaco at home.

    PSG were without the injured Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Thomas Meunier.

    It was a situation that led the German coach to complain about the lack of depth of his squad last weekend.

    Marco Verratti and Juan Bernat were suspended.

    Also, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria have rested ahead of Sunday’s league game against Monaco and the April 27 French Cup final against Stade Rennes.

    Their firepower was sorely missed as Eric Choupo-Moting barely threatened throughout, apart from when he hit the post in the second half.

    Alves, however, opened the scoring after 19 minutes with a splendid long-range lob after collecting a cross from Leandro Paredes.

    Yet Carlos headed home the equaliser four minutes later as PSG, who suffered a 5-1 humiliation at Lille last Sunday, looked shaky.

    Waris put the hosts ahead a minute before the interval when he deflected a team mate’s shot past Gianluigi Buffon.

    Nantes doubled their advantage six minutes into the second half as Carlos’s attempt from a corner kick deflected in off Alves.

    Guclu, 20, celebrated his first top-flight appearance by finding the net with a fine low shot from inside the box.

    The result lifted Nantes up to 14th on 37 points, 12 above the relegation zone.(Reuters/NAN)