In the midst of endless talks to convince

Kylian Mbappe

to renew his contract with

Paris Saint Germain

and not sign for

Real Madrid

,

Nasser Al-Khelaifi

has plenty of time for other business.

At

48 years old

, the Qatari combines the position of president of

PSG

with that of the head of the

ECA

, the

Association of European Clubs

, but also with other obligations within sport but outside of football.

Among them, some related to the sport he loves: tennis.

Al-Khelaifi, who played 43

Davis Cup matches

between 1992 and 2002, is the vice president of the

Asian Tennis

Federation , governs the

Qatari Federation

and is the president of

Qatar Sports Investments

,

QSI

, the company from which almost all sports projects in the country.

And it is from there, precisely, where a schism was caused that has dynamited the current situation in the

world of paddle tennis

, one of the sports that has grown the most in recent years in Spain and Europe.

During the last few months, Al-Khelaifi and his entourage, together with the

International Padel Federation

(FIP) chaired by the Italian

Luigi Carraro

, have developed and launched a new world circuit independent of the well-known

World Padel Tour

, with more money in prizes, "better conditions", they defend and greater media exposure.

"

It's a change for the better

," assures EL MUNDO

Miguel Semmler

, member of the Players Association, where the main stars of this sport are, such as

Juan Lebrón, Ale Galán or Fernando Belasteguín

.

All of them have 'signed' for the new circuit, in which they plan to play this season while they combine it with the World Padel Tour calendar, with which they have

a mandatory contract until 2023

and which is currently in court with the FIP for accusations of monopoly.

Will tennis eat paddle tennis?

In summary,

two different and independent circuits

that distribute points for their respective rankings, thousands of euros at stake, many cities to visit and, on the horizon, the "fear" in certain sectors of padel that tennis, whose federations have special relationship with Al-Khelaifi, keep his entire market.

"

It's exactly the same thing that happened with soccer and futsal

. The first stayed with the second to let it grow only up to a point," criticizes

José Luis Amoroto

, president of the

Madrilenian Padel Federation

, who denounces that behind the organization of some of the tests of the new circuit are the

Tennis Federations of Italy, France and England

, referring to the tournaments to be held in Rome, Paris and London.

"Paddle tennis does not need tennis, but there are so many economic interests that nobody says anything," he questions, in conversation with this newspaper.

It is a double war in which much remains to be fought.

The sides are clear.

On the one hand,

Al-Khelaifi, QSI, the International Padel Federation and the main stars

of the circuit, with the support of some Tennis Federations.

And on the other,

World Padel Tour, with the Spanish company Damm

behind, which is supported

by part of the minor players

, that is, those beyond 20 in the world ranking, those who have not had direct contact with Al-Khelaifi.

"It's not a matter of money"

In the last

World Cup

held in

Doha

in November, with the victory of

Spain

, everything was closed.

As this newspaper has been able to confirm, the sheikh contacted some of the best players to make

private exhibitions

and took the opportunity to close the agreements for the new circuit.

His promise: half a million euros to be distributed in the

four Grand Slams

of this first season, which will have a total of

ten events

.

An "unfeasible" figure for the World Padel Tour, they comment from the organization's environment, but to which they have tried to get as close as possible.

In the last Final Master in December they distributed more than 100,000 euros.

"

It is not a question of money

", insists Miguel Semmler.

"In the new circuit we will be participants in the decisions, not like in the World Padel Tour. And that the Federation is involved is important.

In Qatar they see that professional padel is stagnant

, Al-Khelaifi has been a tennis player, has been in our skin and feels identified", he adds, and puts the focus on the "dream" of many players.

"

We want to be Olympic

and we believe that this is how we can achieve it."

"With all this, the

World Padel Tour will disappear

," they lament from the organization's environment, which is still in court with the FIP.

As EL MUNDO learned,

Al-Khelaifi and QSI

, who are working to launch their circuit at the end of March at the

Doha ATP

facilities and have announced an agreement to broadcast the matches through

ESPN in America

, have promised to pay all the economic fines to the stars who do not play a World Padel Tour tournament.

It is the other dream of the sheikh.

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