Paris Saint-Germain president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has confirmed that the club is actively working on retaining the services of star players Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Sergio Ramos.
Speaking to MARCA (h/t Fabrizio Romano), Al-Khelaifi stated, “We are going to analyze what we are doing, how to make sure that we can continue. We won’t make mistakes”.
This could come as a blow to Barcelona, who have been hoping to re-sign Messi since he left the club in the summer of 2021. The Argentine forward joined PSG on a free transfer after Barcelona was unable to meet his salary demands due to financial constraints.
However, rumours have been circulating over Messi’s potential return to Catalonia, with the Argentine reportedly keen on learning about the Barça project under Xavi Hernandez.
Mbappe, on the other hand, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for several years now and the Spanish giants are reportedly weighing up a 2024 move for the Frenchman. Mbappe has just one year left on his contract with PSG, and the Parisian club will be desperate to keep hold of their prized asset.
As for Ramos, the veteran defender has been linked with a move to the Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr. The 35-year-old joined PSG on a free transfer from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 but has struggled with injuries this season.
Al-Nassr has reportedly offered Ramos a two-year deal worth €18 million per season, which is significantly more than what he is currently earning at PSG.
Despite these rumours, Al-Khelaifi’s comments suggest that PSG is determined to keep hold of their star players, which could be crucial in their bid to land their first-ever Champions League title next season. Les Parisiens were knocked out by Bayern Munich in this edition of UCL.
Barcelona will be hoping that Messi’s ties to the club will be enough to lure him back to Camp Nou, but PSG’s determination to keep him may prove to be a stumbling block.
