The ramifications for PSG after their night of horror in the Champions League look potentially devastating for the next transfer window.
The French side crashed out of Europe after a 20-minute comedy of errors that embodies their recent showings in the competition.
The first leg of their round of 16 match against Real Madrid went down as one of the best performances of their season. Kylian Mbappe bagged a beautiful goal in the dying seconds of the game to give them a 1-0 win and the advantage heading to the second leg at the Bernabeu.
The French starlet then capitalised on that momentum with another superb finish in the first half of the second leg. But somehow, as they so often do, ‘Les Parisiens’ threw it all away.
Letting Karim Benzema find space is never a good idea. And the French side more than paid for their complacency.
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Ultimately, mistakes from three of the squad’s most senior members paid dividends. Benzema forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into making a goalkeeping error to begin the comeback. Neymar then lost the ball in an attacking area, which started the chain of events that led to the dynamic Real forward’s second goal.
And a misplaced defensive clearance from Marquinhos led to the hattrick, which dumped PSG out of the competition.
The devastating feeling is one of which their fans have become well accustomed. But to make matters worse, the loss has had a massive impact on the future of some of their best players.
Read: Mayor of Marseille throws salt in PSG wounds with post-UCL collapse tweet
Who could leave PSG?
Over the last decade, the club’s owners have well and truly broken the bank with the intent of taking over world football. But despite their efforts, they’ve always fallen slightly short of the mark. Regardless of the players they’ve brought in, the Champions League has always eluded them. And, as per reports, several of those players could be about to move on.
According to Mundo Deportivo, several players look set to pack their bags at the end of the campaign. After making four appearances due to injury, the club reportedly views Spain legend Sergio Ramos as disposable. The 35-year-old still oozes class when fit. But at this stage of his career, it seems that PSG won’t keep him around if he’s not playing.
Georginio Wijnaldum arrived from Liverpool in the summer. But the Dutchman has struggled to adapt to life in France.
His holding midfield role was pivotal in Liverpool’s ability to win matches consistently. When Fabinho could not win the ball, Wijnaldum’s ability to block passing lanes allowed his team to regain their shape. But he’s struggled to make the same impact in Ligue 1.
The club are also set to listen to offers for Thilo Kehrer, Layvin Kurzawa, Idrissa Gueye, Ander Herrera, Esteban Paredes and Mauro Icardi.
In addition, there are fresh doubts over the future of Neymar, for whom the club would, as per the same source, consider any acceptable offer. Mbappe, meanwhile, looks set to secure a contract at the club’s chief tormentors, Real Madrid.
If PSG were already struggling to conquer Europe, things look like getting a whole lot tougher next season.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
