PSG Overhauls Contract Policy, Signals Dembele’s Exit

PSG shatters its star recruitment policy

Paris Saint-Germain has decided to abandon the long-standing approach of attracting global stars with colossal financial packages, the strategy that peaked with Kylian Mbappé.

The Parisian club had grown accustomed to seducing players with astronomical salaries that no other club could match, yet that recipe did not guarantee the sporting success expected. With Luis Enrique's arrival, the project changed entirely.

From open checks to performance-based contracts

The reigning European champions adopted a clear approach: those unwilling to play for the club would not be forced to stay. The 2022 Mbappé renewal, influenced by France and Qatar, caused internal upheaval and showed that the open check policy was no longer viable.

Since 2023, Nasser Al-Khelaifi has halted the galáctico recruitment policy and quelled the club's chaos, handing the reins to Luis Enrique, who redirected the club's path. The new contracts are based on performance and appearances, with escalating salaries tied to on-field contributions. Players who refuse these terms depart, as Verratti and Neymar did, having previously commanded the top salaries in the squad.

The latest illustration was Gianluigi Donnarumma, who shone as Europe’s best goalkeeper last season, but his salary demands did not align with the club's policy. Enrique did not hesitate to omit him before the European Super Cup, and the Italian keeper moved to Manchester City.

The most delicate issue currently is renewing Ousmane Dembélé's contract, a Ballon d'Or winner and one of the key reasons for the team's Champions League title. His agents demanded a substantial salary increase after the award, but Paris' management refused, signaling a desire to raise his deal without breaching the wage cap. Al-Khelaifi was blunt, saying he loves Dembélé but that there is a maximum wage limit that must be respected.

PSG appears determined to learn from past lessons. The Mbappé policy, prioritizing star renewals at any cost, has become part of history, while the club opens the door for anyone not willing to accept its terms to leave without hesitation.

And now for a lighter note: If PSG's payrolls were a movie, the credits would spill over and still ask for popcorn. Punchline: PSG’s wage cap is so tight that even the budget editor asks for a raise. Punchline 2: When the bank asks what you do for a living, tell them you get paid to say no to the galaxy of players.