Paris-St. Germain's attempt to become a serious contender on the European soccer scene took a giant step forward on Thursday.
According to Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport, AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi confirmed the sales of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and centerback Thiago Silva to PSG for a reported €62 million in a move that nets the French club two of the biggest stars in the world at their respective positions.
After adding Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli, Carlo Ancelotti's squad now has an abundance of world-class talent from front to back. With Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic up top, Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore pulling the strings in the midfield alongisde French international Jeremy Menez and the likes of Silva, Uruguayan international Diego Lugano and former Chelsea centerback Alex in defense, PSG, which finished in second in Ligue 1 last season, is a juggernaut on paper.
U.S. soccer fans will get a chance to see the new-look PSG up close later this month. The club will play against Chelsea at Yankee Stadium on July 22 before facing D.C. United at RFK Stadium on July 28 as part of the World Football Challenge.
As for AC Milan, losing the two starters is a blow to the club's roster but frees up significant financial resources in both transfer fee and salary to retool and rebuild. Manchester City strikers Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko are two reported targets to replace Ibrahimovic for the Rossoneri.
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Do you see PSG becoming the next world power after this move? Still not sold that this team can compete with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Manchester City on the European stage? Planning on attending PSG's WFC matches now?
Share your thoughts below.
Well, you’d have thought that PSG would have been in for a cakewalk last year in Ligue 1, but… Anyway, Carlo won’t have any excuses if May rolls around and they’re languishing in third place.
Income Taxes makes the difference. Both Salary figures are understood Net income in players pocket.
I’d guess Sakho and Silva.
Yeah, it is Lyon (French Cup winners) against Montpellier (Ligue 1 winners).
On FIFA 2013 that is. #ilovepaperchampions
If you think for a second I’m playing with a team other than Barca, Man U, Madrid; you got another thing coming.
i thought psg was playing at red bull arena on july 28 vs montpellier? am i confused?
probably why silvio stunk as italy’s prime minister….
07-’10. That meant the start of the 2007 season
I am confused as to how AC Milan will save the €150 million over two years that Silvio the Great claims it will. Ibrahimovic was reportedly making €12 million/year (so €24 million total) and Silva will supposedly be making €7.5 million/year at PSG and, while he was probably previously earning less (I think I read somewhere that his “new” deal was for €6 million-a-year plus bonuses), for simplicity’s sake I will assume that he would have earned the same at Milan (so €15 million over two years). This is a total of €39 million in saved wages. Even if the transfer fee is the €70 million figure that some sources are reporting, this is a total of €109 million. And while that is a very impressive number (and far more than I have it), it is still €41 million short of Berlusconi’s claimed savings … so what am I missing? Did these guys get some hefty bonuses or did they use a disproportionate amount of non-salary amenities (e.g. multiple massages a day, killed it at the buffet table) paid for by AC Milan?
They were great in 07(obviously since they won the whole tournament) But in 09 they were in the UEFA Cup and in 08 they lost to Arsenal and 10 they absolutely destroyed by Manchester United both in the final 16. With Zlatan they had a disappointing loss to Tottenham but with Zlatan they beat Arsenal and were eliminated by Barcelona(there is no shame losing to them).
From 07-’10 they were pretty much crap in Italy and in the CL. Ibrahimovic joining helped change that. And then Inter suddenly became crap for the past 2 years
Ugh, I love PSG, but I’m not such a huge fan of Ibra. I guess it’s always better to have him on your team than play against him though.
Gooch was suppose to join PSG 3 years ago? why did he go to AC MILAN again? did they offer him a huge wage?
Yep you’re right. He won like 8 titles in a row
I think this makes PSG one of the elite teams in Europe. But, unless Milan bring in some serious talent they are no longer an elite team.
Maybe Alex.
I hear that John guy from Dallas will be a Free Agent soon. Off to Milan!
Where’s Gooch when you need him???? haha
+1
A more relevant question is who is going to slot in at the other CB position next to Silva
PS that’s no slight on PSG, I think they’ll be a great team next season, but really, it’s preseason against a 3rd division Austrian team…
Well, I can’t speak for everyone on here, but I’m willing to bet pretty much no one had a clue PSG played a 3rd division Austrian team yesterday. Who cares about the preseason, especially when you are playing 3rd division Austrian teams. I’m fairly certain my coed team would do well against them, but admittedly we are champs three seasons running…
wow that is some serious signage!
so who plays CB with Sakho, Silva and Lugano on the team?
It has to do with everything. Had we lost yesterday you and gobs of others would have ridden the team hard. It’s the very 1st training match of the season after 2 weeks of training and the goals came from everywhere. Always nice to get off to a STRONG start no matter the opponent. Played a few of the kids formed in the Academy including a 17yr old who just signed his 1st Pro Contract and they all performed well. Next match is in two days against a much stronger CSKA Moscow side and with the renewed spirit of competition in the club, can’t help but be excited knowing how long it’s been since we’ve had a very strong team.
What’s your point about beating some shite team in Austria? What does that have to do with anything?
If PSG doesn’t win Ligue 1 with two months to spare, they should be ashamed of themselves. I guess Ibra didn’t like playing for a team that didn’t win the title for once…
I’d like to thank the Qatari Royal Family for spending the coin, I’d like to thank Berlusconi for having a team in debt and I’d like to thank….
loving it and looking forward to seeing the project make a few leaps and bounds. To think yesterday we PSG whipped an Austrian 3rd division team 9-0 in th 1st warm up of the season. Oh Spartak Moscow, I can’t wait to see what happens to you ya in a few days.
This team looks absolutely amazing on paper. Now it’s time to see if they can be anything more than paper champions. I’m looking forward to seeing them.
PSG is trying to step it up so as to be competitive in their friendly with DC United later this month.
a pretty filthy line up
Thiago Silva is on Brazil’s Olympic team.
Expect Milan to sign Dede to replace Silva. A good substitute.
A few years away from becoming a world power.
A very, very good team next season — yes.
Wait til you see the kids coming through the youth academy and most are from the Paris region. This is gonna be fun.
ALLEZ PSG
C’est Magique!!!