6 Players Whose PSG Careers Could Come to an End in the Summer
For the last few weeks, there's been a feeling that this Paris Saint-Germain team is coming to the end of its cycle.
Even during Friday’s 4-0 win over Rennes, PSG rarely got out of second gear.
The Parisians secured the Ligue 1 title with a 9-0 win over Troyes in March, and then the third part of their domestic treble was confirmed with a 2-1 win over Lille in the Coupe de la Ligue final.
At the whistle, the players' reactions illustrated that this trophy, despite lacking the prestige of the Ligue 1 or Champions League trophies, still meant a lot. But perhaps they were also a bit relieved, as their performance was far from convincing.
Changes are almost guaranteed this summer, and here are six players whose PSG careers could come to an end in the summer.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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The future of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is perhaps the worst-kept secret in world football.
The Swede's contract is up at the end of June, and it is almost guaranteed that he will leave Paris in the summer.
"I have always had great relationship with everybody, no question about it. But, for the moment, I am not at PSG next year,” he told reporters after the win over Troyes, via ESPN FC.
"I have one-and-a-half months to stay here. I will enjoy it while I'm still here. What happens next year, I don't know—but for the moment, I will not be here."
He has been a phenomenal success in the league. He's won four league trophies in four years and scored 34 goals this season—with three games still to go—and last Saturday's Coupe de la Ligue win gave him his 31st individual trophy.
Zlatan will hope to bow out by winning No. 32 against rivals Marseille in the Coupe de France final.
Maxwell
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At 34 years old, Maxwell's age finally showed signs of letting him down this year in the Champions League.
He's still an intelligent and capable footballer, but at the top level, his legs can sometimes let him down. Over the past few weeks, he has shown that he still has that Brazilian flair, with goals against Caen and Rennes, but the time has come for PSG to look beyond the veteran.
Laurent Blanc has Layvin Kurzawa on the bench, and the young French international is eager to take Maxwell’s place. Next summer is the perfect time to promote the 23-year-old.
He is contracted until 2017, but there is no guarantee he will be at the club next season. "For me, perhaps it's time to try something new, you never know. I'm focused on the end of season," he said, per FourFourTwo.
Thiago Motta
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Statistics can often help and sometimes hurt in assessing a player's current ability.
According to WhoScored.com, Thiago Motta has been an essential member of PSG's midfield.
Over 25 starts this season, he's averaged 84.3 passes per game. Only Marco Verratti averages more. Meanwhile, Motta's 0.8 key passes per game rank eighth amongst active players.
However, he doesn't appear to have had the same influence this campaign. When rushed, he looks off the pace and a half-yard behind. For PSG to stay on top, starting Motta is becoming a problem.
Adrien Rabiot is may not be quite at the level Blanc would prefer to start the majority of games, but unless he increases his minutes again and puts him under that pressure, he may never find out.
Saying goodbye to Motta and bringing in a top-class player would push Rabiot down the pecking order again, and that could be a huge mistake.
Gregory van der Wiel
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At half-time of PSG's 9-0 win over Troyes, it was reported by L'Equipe (h/t Sky Sports) that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gregory van der Wiel were involved in a row. The Dutch full-back was replaced at the break and was missing from the postgame title celebrations.
It all points to the Dutch international leaving this summer. There have been rumours, via French newspaper Nice Matin (h/t Get French Football News), that he has been in talks with Monaco, and there will always be suitors for an international right-back.
Serge Aurier's pre-periscope form made him the No. 1 choice in the team, and despite his questionable attitude, he is still ahead of Van der Wiel.
Marquinhos can also play there, and PSG even have Youssouf Sabaly out on loan at FC Nantes.
Lucas Moura
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When Lucas Moura joined PSG from Sao Paulo in 2012 for £44 million, it was a huge fee. But he arrived as a player with amazing potential.
Four seasons later, the main issue with the Brazilian forward is that he is still a player with amazing potential, and now the main question is whether or not he has actually improved since he first arrived in the French capital.
PSG are blessed with several talented players in the same position, as Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore play in the same role as Lucas. It's hard to find minutes for all three, and if the club is also going to look for new signings in the attacking roles, it’s not an issue that can be easily resolved.
This season, Lucas has eight goals and four assists, but there is a feeling that he could offer much more. If there is interest this summer, PSG should seriously consider moving the 23-year-old or someone else at his position.
Javier Pastore
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Javier Pastore is in the same boat as Lucas Moura, although the Argentinian midfielder is more flexible when it comes to the positions he can play.
Pastore was the first signing in the new PSG era, coming from Palermo in Serie A for €42 million. After an exciting first season, Pastore was overshadowed by big-name signings and fell into the background.
Last season went well for the 26-year-old, who scored five times and added 12 assists, but he's been dealing with injury problems this season.
When at full fitness, he has shown he still has the quality to play at a high level, but he still has to show that he can perform on the Champions League stage.
PSG could quite easily attract players that are better suited to play in the midfield three and rely on others to play in the attacking roles.
It would be hard to turn down a serious offer for the Argentinian playmaker if anyone made a bid. However, it’s unlikely PSG would let both Pastore and Lucas leave this summer.
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