Psg, Messi and fair play: the crucial points of the Parisians

On the one hand there is the desire to hold on to him, on the other the budgetary problems. In short, it is a simple but complex equation that intertwines the renewal of Leo Messi and the tightening of financial fair play on the budgets of the PSG, forced to reduce the amount of salaries. But the negotiation has begun and is proceeding smoothly, according to the signals received in Paris, confirmed yesterday by sports director Luis Campos: “We are talking, I would like you to stay”.

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But the process shouldn’t be taken for granted, because the Qatari emir’s club still has to deal with a budget hole of the order of 300 million euros. Bitter souvenir of the two-year period conditioned by Covid, but also of the investment policy on the future, linked to the renewal of Mbappé. The Frenchman is now paid 94 million euros net per season, including the three-year installment of 60 million signing bonus. A drain that weighs on the wages item, which already includes 30 million for Neymar and 40 for Messi. Too many for the UEFA controllers of financial fair play. And the PSG, according to the Equipe, will have to reduce it by 30% next summer.

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Hence the complexity of the operation Messi who can now assert the title of world champion, earned right in the house of the emir, in Qatar. Even if the 36-year-old Argentine has to manage the end of his career, it is unlikely that he will lower his financial demands much. But the dialogue is open, with mutual willingness to find common ground, as has been revealed by both sides. And from that of Campos in particular who declared on TV yesterday: “We’re talking to each other, I’d like him to continue with us, in our project. The goal is to keep him with us”. But it will be necessary to reduce the roster and perhaps cut some elements that are now too many. In particular that of goalkeeper Navas, paid 12 million gross per season, just parked at Nottingham Forest; and Icardi, once again a protagonist with Galatasaray, but with a Parisian salary of 10 million.