Paris (AFP)
Only a few hours before the end of the thrilling summer 2021 season of the "Mercato" series, Tuesday night at midnight: Kylian Mbappé is firmly Parisian, despite the assiduous court of Real Madrid, and Lyon and Marseille will attempt final blows.
The minutes are counted for Florentino Pérez, the president of the Merengue club, if he wants to bring the Parisian prodigy this season.
Monday evening, an agreement seemed to be moving away, the press evoking, on both sides of the Pyrenees, a halt in negotiations between Paris SG and Real.
Madrid have still not succeeded in convincing Paris SG to give up their superstar: a first offer of 160 M EUR was "not enough" according to the sporting director Leonardo, the second proposal of 180 M EUR either, and the camp Parisian assures that the Spanish giant has not made a third offer.
PSG have the choice between replenishing the coffers of a stratospheric amount for a player at the end of his contract in June but never seeing his magic trio Messi-Neymar-Mbappé, or enjoying for a season of his dream team, but risking to see the world champion leave for free at the end of the season.
Especially since in the event of departure, it is difficult to imagine the Qatari owners not replacing the star with another cador ... No small task.
- Five star recruitment -
At 22, the Bondynois leaves nothing to filter on his intentions.
Sunday in Reims (2-0), he celebrated his double as a faithful Parisian, and enjoyed playing his first minutes alongside Lionel Messi, the flagship recruit of the transfer window.
French striker Kylian Mbappé after the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Stade de Reims, on August 29, 2021 at the Auguste-Delaune stadium FRANCK FIFE AFP
One thing is certain: if there are to be developments in this major issue, Mbappé will have to respond to requests from Clairefontaine (Yvelines), where the France team has been gathered since Monday, at midday, or even from Strasbourg, where the Blues go on Tuesday in order to face Bosnia on Wednesday at Meinau.
This unbearable epilogue for supporters comes to close a historic transfer window for Ligue 1 and its Parisian juggernaut.
The arrival of Messi, which FC Barcelona could not keep, caused an unprecedented impact in the capital and in the authorities of French football.
At the Parc des Princes during its presentation to the fans, as for its first minutes of play in Reims on Sunday, "la Pulga" capsizes fans with each appearance.
Almost enough to forget the starry recruitment of Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma, three executives who arrived for free, and Achraf Hakimi, a very good pick torn from Inter Milan for 60 M EUR.
Difficult for Ligue 1 to compete with such high-sounding names.
But despite finances at half mast, between pandemic and crisis in television rights, the clubs of the French Championship have managed a few nice shots on the market.
- Marseille and Nice active -
Olympique de Marseille version Jorge Sampaoli, the hot coach, and Pablo Longoria, the hyperactive president, celebrated the arrival of nine major recruits, including Mattéo Guendouzi, Gerson and Cengiz Ünder, all three already very promising at the image of the goal scored by each of them against Saint-Etienne (3-1), Saturday.
The French defender of Marseille Matteo Guendouzi, during the Ligue 1 match of OM against Saint-Etienne, at the velodrome stadium on August 28, 2021 Nicolas TUCAT AFP / Archives
But it is probably not over yet!
The specialized press is still expecting the arrival of French midfielder Amine Harit.
But it will also be necessary to downsize the workforce, with Boubacar Kamara and Duje Caleta-Car, "bankable" players, as potential starters.
In Lyon, the (free) departure of Memphis Depay from Barça was offset by the arrival of Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool), the main movement in the Rhône, where an attacker is still hoped for.
Boosted by the investments of its owner Ineos, Nice has made a place for itself among the contenders for Europe by signing, in addition to the champion coach of France Christophe Galtier, the winger Justin Kluivert, Calvin Stengs and especially the Montpellier striker Andy Delort, blown away at OM.
If Lille only replaced its goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who left for AC Milan, with Ivo Grbic, the French champion club has for the moment retained its workforce.
Stade Rennes spent around thirty million euros to strengthen themselves (Sulemana, Santamaria, Meling, Majer ...), while Strasbourg and Troyes played the experience card by attracting Kévin Gameiro and Adil Rami respectively .
© 2021 AFP