PSG has its first two recruits of the off-season. Barring a last-minute disaster, Manuel Ugarte and Marco Asensio will indeed commit to Paris Saint-Germain. Various sources have reported this information, which we are able to confirm to you. They are currently in the capital, in order to satisfy the traditional medical examinations. Two players from the Jorge Mendes team, like Vitinha, Danilo Pereira or even Renato Sanches, but also the titis El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Warren Zaire-Emery. The Portuguese agent is obviously in Paris as well.
Aged 22, Ugarte arrives from Sporting CP. A rough defensive midfielder, his transfer will cost Paris-SG €60 million, the amount of his release clause. An amount which will be spread over five years and which will not be counted in the Parisian figures until next year. Good news for financial fair play, knowing that Paris is targeted by the financial policeman, even if the overall amount remains substantial. In recent hours, Chelsea seemed to have taken over, but it was finally PSG who hit the jackpot and put the grapple on the Uruguayan international. The Blues who have tried everything, going so far as to navigate the borders of legality in discussions with the Portuguese club, in vain. There is talk of a proposal to become a minority shareholder of Sporting … Still, contrary to what some sources have indicated, PSG will not pay an annual salary of € 10 million to Ugarte. “Much less”, we are assured. One thing is certain: Ugarte is part of the club’s policy, in search of talented youngsters. And it’s a profile that the Rouge et Bleu lacked. Good pick ?
Free after many years at Real Madrid, the 27-year-old Spanish international attacking midfielder Asensio had come to the end of his contract. He therefore joined the club with 11 French championship titles without transfer compensation. A good shot … on paper, even if the former Mallorca player never really won at Santiago-Bernabeu, he who played 286 matches with Casa Blanca (61 goals, 32 assists). He should sign for four years, while Manuel Ugarte awaits a lease until 2028.
Remember that the champions of France must also soon welcome the Slovak international defender Milan Skriniar (28), at the end of the contract at Inter. In the direction of departures, we know that Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos are leaving. This will free up a large place in the payroll, especially as some other departures are expected. For coach Christophe Galtier, it’s not yet official, but there’s little doubt about it… In recent hours, the hottest track has led to Julian Nagelsmann (ex-Bayern), who could have Thierry Henry as his assistant.
For the rest, there are already many leads as far as arrivals are concerned. Here and there, we talk about Lucas Hernandez (Bayern), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Victor Osimhen (Naples), Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) or Marcus Thuram (M’Gladbach). Not to mention the Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven) file. Non-exhaustive list. After the failed transfer window last summer, we should not miss it … If there is a chance to keep Kylian Mbappé beyond the summer of 2024, it will go through there. “What do I expect from PSG this summer? Nothing, I’m just here to play, I still have a contract and I’m here to play. The club is doing what it can and I will just be satisfied with what the club does, ”corrects Bondy’s crack.
In the meantime, the big maneuvers have already started for Paris-SG. “We will work a lot for PSG, continue to do important things in French and world football”, promised Luis Campos on Saturday, before the match against Clermont (2-3). And to add: “We have just spent a few very complicated days on the emotional level (after the accident of Sergio Rico, editor’s note). And we don’t make emotional decisions… We’re going to take stock of all the matches, not only on the coach but also the players, those who have to stay, those who have to leave… We’re going to see the right timing for do it. We have not made any decisions, neither on the coach nor on the players who must leave. Obviously, it was only communication. After a disappointing season, there is no time to waste.
