He was the star of last football season, but PSV supporters will not be able to enjoy Xavi Simons in the Philips Stadium any longer. The attacking midfielder has decided to exchange Eindhoven for Paris. He returns to Paris Saint-Germain. Because he had a clause in his contract, PSV only receives a ‘paltry amount’ of six million euros for his star player.
René van de Kerkhof – just like Xavi a renowned number 7 of PSV – calls the departure of Simons a drama for PSV. “This is very unfortunate. I thought: he will continue to play football with us for another year. I think most did not expect this step. Xavi has spoken to various people about his choice in recent weeks, including national coach Ronald Koeman. He said that it would be best for him to stay with PSV for another year. But he decided otherwise… Too bad for PSV and the Dutch football public. We may never see him again on the Dutch fields .”
The ex-international also wonders whether Simons – despite his talent – will play a lot of football in Paris. “I hold my breath. Because they have a top team there in Paris. The only player who has left there is Lionel Messi. Those other big names are all still there and then there will probably be more purchases.”
Brother Willy is also disappointed, but points out that the departure of a star player can also turn out well. He won a European Cup with PSV a year after the departure of Ralf Edström (1977) and Ruud Gullit (1987). “Maybe the other players think: Simons may be gone, but we are still there. If they add one or two scoops to it, I think we will have a great season.”
“I think this has to do with the influence that agents have:”
Former defender Jan Poortvliet also does not understand Xavi Simons’ choice. “You are having a good time in Eindhoven, you have the chance to play in the Champions League – although PSG also plays in that of course – and you are in the starting line-up at PSV! Such a shame, because this could be a top year for PSV. He could also have left next season. If you have as much talent as he does, that step will come. But you see this so often these days… I think it has to do with the influence that agents have, if the dollars get in the eyes… If you can make twice as much, or maybe even more, you can’t stop something like that.”
The former successful coach of FC Eindhoven sighs: “This is how the football world is nowadays. Look, I can still understand that some older football players now opt for a country such as Saudi Arabia, that they want to cash in on their old age. But that such I think it’s a pity to choose young footballers for the money.”
“I had a suspicion…”
Stan Valckx, former top football player and ex-technical manager of PSV, is less surprised by Simons’ transfer. “To be honest, I already suspected that Xavi had aimed his arrows at something else. I know that PSV has pulled out all the stops, but I had suspected for a while that Xavi was pursuing a higher goal.”
Valckx understands that Poortvliet points to the role of the agent in this story. “That is often the case, but I don’t think so now. I think Xavi really wanted something different. You can’t blame agents for everything. They are often the piss, but they also do good things, of course.”
He does reassure the PSV fans. “The club has really switched and a list of potential successors,” he knows from experience. “But I don’t think you will find them as good as Xavi. Someone with such a commitment, so many goals and assists.”
As a club you play chess on several boards at the same time, he explains. “They will have been busy with that at PSV. You have already set out lines as a club. But … the preliminary rounds of the Champions League are coming. It is important that there is a team that can reach the group stage.”
Willy and René van de Kerkhof briefly interrupt the summer break of their podcast to respond to Xavi’s departure. One of them is already apparent having prior knowledge…
Waiting for privacy settings…
READ ALSO:
Xavi on his way from PSV to Paris Saint-Germain
‘PSV can forget about the championship’, fans are angry about Xavi