Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has entered a new phase following the departure of Kylian Mbappe. The French champions have maintained a low profile as they adapt to life without their superstar forward. Mbappe, who moved to Real Madrid after his contract expired in June, left a significant void at the club. During his seven years with PSG, he scored an impressive 256 goals, becoming their all-time top scorer. The club appears to have decided that no single player can adequately replace him.
Quiet Transfer Activity
Coach Luis Enrique will lead his team in the opening match of the new Ligue 1 season against Le Havre without any high-profile signings to directly replace Mbappe. Despite this, Paris Saint-Germain has been active in the summer transfer window. They may still pursue a top-class striker before the deadline at the end of the month. Victor Osimhen from Napoli has been linked with a move to Paris, but it’s unclear if he fits Enrique’s preferred style of play.
New Signings
So far, Paris Saint-Germain has invested around 125 million euros ($132.2m) on three new players. They signed 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves from Benfica for 59.9 million euros. The fee could rise by 10 million euros with bonuses. They also strengthened their defense by acquiring 22-year-old Ecuadorian center-back Willian Pacho from Eintracht Frankfurt for up to 45 million euros. Additionally, they signed 25-year-old Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov from Krasnodar for 20 million euros. Safonov will compete with Gianluigi Donnarumma for the starting goalkeeper position.
Maintaining the Core Team
Despite Mbappe’s departure, PSG has retained the core of their team from last season. They incorporated teenage Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Moscardo after signing him from Corinthians in January and allowing him to stay there on loan for six more months. French international wingers Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola are expected to build on their impressive performances from last season. The club also hopes that Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos, who scored 23 goals between them last season, will help fill the void left by Mbappe.
Shifting Strategy
PSG’s strategy has shifted from signing veteran stars like Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos. This season, Marquinhos, 30, is likely to be the oldest member of the starting lineup. The only glamorous figure to pose with a PSG shirt alongside president Nasser al-Khelaifi this summer has been NBA star Kevin Durant, who has invested in the club.
Luis Enrique’s Challenge
Luis Enrique acknowledged the challenge of replacing Mbappe. “He is obviously a different player, and we can’t replace him with one single player. Forget it. There is no substitute for Kylian Mbappe,” Enrique said in May, shortly after his team won the French Cup final to complete a domestic double. “We will need to replace him with the team as a whole, and with maybe four, five, or six new signings.”
Pre-Season Preparation
PSG has also kept a low profile in their pre-season activities. They avoided energy-draining summer tours to the United States or Asia. Instead, Luis Enrique kept the squad at their training base outside Paris. The team played just two friendly matches, drawing against Austrian champions Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig in Germany. Many players returned to training late after participating in Euro 2024, the Copa America, or the Olympics. Enrique’s focus is on getting the team in peak condition by the time the Champions League begins in September. By then, a new attacking option may have been added to the squad.
Looking Ahead
As PSG transitions into this new era, the club’s low-profile approach in the transfer market and pre-season activities reflects a strategic shift. The aim is to build a cohesive team capable of competing at the highest level without relying on a single superstar. The coming months will reveal how successful PSG’s new strategy will be as they navigate life without Kylian Mbappe. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
