PSG has trumped Chelsea in the battle for Manuel Ugarte’s signature. The 22-year-old midfielder comes over from Sporting Portugal for sixty million euros.
PSG activates very expensive clause and strikes at Sporting Portugal
Ugarte appeared to be on his way to Chelsea earlier this summer. The transfer seemed to be done, but then PSG suddenly joined the fray. That made the Uruguayan international change his mind. The Blues withdrew from the negotiations and the French national champion then struck.
The transfer of Ugarte involves sixty million euros. That was the contractually agreed transfer fee in the midfielder’s contract. Ugarte is on the eve of his third club in Europe. Famalicão brought him to Portugal four years ago, a year later he moved to Sporting Lisbon.
In Paris, Ugarte will compete with, among others, Danilo Pereira, Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Fabian Ruíz, Carlos Soler and Renato Sanches.
PSG tries to strike a different chord with Mbappé with a warning
The Paris Saint-Germain club management is doing everything it can to prevent Kylian Mbappé’s transfer-free departure. There has been begging, throwing money and playing on the feelings of the Frenchman. A warning about the future of his current teammates is the next step PSG took.
According to leading media from England and France, Mbappé has been warned by the PSG club management. They told him what the financial consequences are if he opts for a transfer-free departure.
In May last year, Mbappé appeared on the field of the Parc des Princes together with club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and the top scorer’s contract extension was proudly announced. Mbappé appeared on stage with a broad smile and a shirt with the year 2025 on it.
However, that 2025 turns out to be incorrect. Mbappé signed a contract until 2024, with an option for a one-year contract extension. The attacker himself has now indicated to the club that he will not exercise that option , meaning that Mbappé will be free on a transfer next year. As of January 1, clubs can talk to him about a contract without interference from PSG.
It is very important to PSG to prevent this. For example, Mbappé has been warned that if he does leave on a free transfer in a year’s time, the club management will be forced to sell a few of his teammates against any reasonable offer. The financial blow of a free departure from Mbappé cannot be absorbed by PSG.
The champion of France recently appointed Luis Enrique as new coach , Al-Khelaïfi spoke during the press presentation. He stated that it was unthinkable that PSG would let the best player in the world go for nothing.
