Paris (AFP)

"Yes, we are coming to the end": Leonardo, sports director of Paris SG, confirmed in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche that the Brazilian Thiago Silva and the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, at the end of the contract, would not extend with the club beyond this season.

"It was a very difficult decision to make," the leader said in an interview with the "JDD" to be published on Sunday, extracts from which were published on the weekly's website.

"These are players who have marked the history of the club: we always wonder whether we should continue a long way together or whether it is better to avoid the year too much. The stories were so beautiful. But , yes, we are coming to the end. We had to make a logical decision, even economically or with regard to the generation that is coming, "he continued.

This announcement confirms press information published in recent days evoking the upcoming departure of the Brazilian defender and captain (35) and the Uruguayan center-forward (33), top scorer in PSG history with 200 goals.

With losses estimated internally at more than 200 million euros after the shutdown of Ligue 1 due to coronavirus, the PSG seems to initiate a necessary reduction in its payroll exceeding 300 M EUR. And Thiago Silva like Cavani, two executives who have been symbols of the Qatari project for several years at PSG, enjoy an XXL salary.

"Maybe we're wrong, I don't know, there is never a perfect moment," added Leonardo, while leaving the door open to a short extension of the two players' contract to allow them to complete in August the PSG Champions League campaign, interrupted in March when Paris had just qualified for the quarters at the expense of Dortmund (1-2, 2-0).

"The idea is to continue competing with them until the end of August. But the way in which we can achieve this is not yet clear" legally, argued the leader.

For other players at the end of the contract, such as Thomas Meunier, Layvin Kurzawa or Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Leonardo also hinted that they would not be kept.

"The idea is also to stop there but we have to discuss the next two months. We will try to keep the whole group for the Champions League," he said.

© 2020 AFP