PSG: Is the Argentina era ending? Trio around Ángel Di María should go

“L’Équipe” report

Paris Saint-Germain have had at least two Argentinians in their squad every season since 2012 – with the exception of six months in 2018. This era will probably come to an end after ten years: Like the “L’Equipe‘ reported, Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes and Mauro Icardi will leave PSG. In addition to the trio, star striker Lionel Messi (34), who is tied until 2023, is the only Argentine to remain in Paris.

According to the report, Di María’s expiring contract will not be extended, even though the right winger himself had hoped to stay at PSG. The decisive factor is the declining level of performance in the current season, in which the 34-year-old has not often been able to convince and has been injured more often. In 2022, Di María has made nine appearances for PSG – none of them over 90 minutes – and has not played a goal.

The fact that Di María did not play in last weekend’s top game against Olympique Marseille (2-1) because coach Mauricio Pochettino preferred Icardi shows that Di María has now moved into the third row, it is said. However, his compatriot was not well received by the fans when he was substituted in for Kylian Mbappé (23): Icardi was greeted with a whistle.

In addition to Di María: Icardi and Paredes are also expected to leave PSG in the summer

Since his back-and-forth relationship with wife and advisor Wanda Nara last October, Icardi has lost popularity at all levels: from sports director Leonardo to fans to PSG employees. It was not understood why the attacker was given three days of vacation at the time of the marital dispute, it is said.

Since then, Icardi has also struggled with loading jams on the pitch, only scoring twice in 19 games. Even in the few minutes against OM last Sunday, the striker was completely beside himself. Icardi, who was signed by Inter Milan for 50 million euros in the summer of 2020 and is bound until 2024, feels comfortable in Paris but is clearly one of those PSG would like to sell in the summer.

Paredes, who came to PSG from Zenit St. Petersburg in early 2019 for a basic fee of €40m, cost almost as much as Icardi. The midfielder could not justify the sum, internally there was a lot of criticism. The personnel Paredes also split the cabin. Appreciated by the South Americans, the other players are of the opinion that the 27-year-old is concentrating too much on the game of his compatriot Messi. The “L’Équipe” speaks of the “role of the watchdog”.

A change in the summer indicates that PSG have already forced an operation for persistent pubic inflammation in the middle of the season finale at Paredes, who is still under contract until 2023. The downtime is expected to be around two months. This should not jeopardize a possible transfer with a good offer. Tottenham Hotspur reportedly expressed an interest in Paredes last winter, with the newspaper speculating that Premier League clubs could reappear in the summer. With the World Cup in Qatar fast approaching, Paredes also knows he will need consistent playing time – possibly away from Paris.

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