PSG Transfer News

PSG registered a resounding 5-1 win over Lorient at the Parc des Princes on Sunday in Ligur 1. A brace apiece from Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, and a rare goal from Lionel Messi helped the Parisians edge closer to their eighth league title in ten years.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe has revealed his delight at playing alongside Messi. Elsewhere, the French giants are the favourites to sign a Liverpool star.

On that note, here’s a look at the key PSG transfer stories as on 4th April 2022.

Kylian Mbappe delighted to play alongside Lionel Messi

Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he is learning a lot from playing alongside Messi. The two superstars of modern football were on song in PSG’s 5-1 win on Sunday. The Argentinean has shown signs of a budding partnership with Mbappe since arriving at the Parc des Princes last summer.

Kylian:“I said on French television that I had not made my decision. I am calm. I’m finishing my season, and I’m good in my head. We’ll see what will happen. (…) I play with Messi, I have a lot of fun playing with him, and we will see later,” said Mbappe.
He continued:

“See him every day, see what he can do. He can improve my game because he is a unique player. I have the chance to play with him. It’s an honour. I always said that I never thought I could play with Messi but today I do, I play with him. And I’m very happy. I learn a lot with him. He is a unique player, a legend who will go down in football history. It’s a pleasure for me,” said Mbappe.

Kylian about his future at PSG: I’m calm, I take the time to make the best decision because I don’t want to be wrong. There are new things to consider. It’s not an easy decision, I’m trying to make the best possible with my family,” said Mbappe.

PSG on Mo’Salah

The Egyptian phenomenon’s future is up in the air, with his current contract set to run out next summer. Liverpool have already offered him a new deal, and recent reports have claimed that the 29-year-old is ready to accept the terms. However, should Salah consider a departure, Ligue 1 giants PSG are ready to lap him up.

The Parisians are looking to bolster their attack amid uncertainties over the future of Kylian Mbappe. Salah’s arrival could help offset the Frenchman’s departure to an extent. The French giants are willing to move mountains to secure the Egyptian if talks with Liverpool break down.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up on rumours star duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane do not get along after the pair returned to the club following a World Cup play-off

Klopp says he was impressed and touched by Mane’s insistence he wouldn’t revel in beating the nation of his team-mate twice in the past month, as Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations and then qualified for the World Cup finals.

On his return to Anfield after both games, team-mates had planned a ‘celebration’, but out of respect to Salah, the Reds forward asked that the usual ‘ceremony’ to recognise his achievement was cancelled. And Klopp claimed it shows their bond, as team-mates and friends. He said: “No doubt about it they are not only close, they are well educated, they are good boys, they are good humans.

“I really thought Sadio did particularly well with it to be honest and I am sure that Mo appreciates that as well. Even if it is your brother, then imagine he is playing for the other team and you have to play a final and one wins and the other loses. That is not a good situation for anyone. But for sure Sadio and Mo would consider themselves as friends, and they handled it well.”

Both players will return to the starting line up after being rested in the final Liverpool game before their World Cup showdown, as the Reds look to go top of the Premier League against Watford. And the manager’s words put paid to the long held belief amongst cynics that the pair don’t like each other, and are rivals on the pitch, even in the red shirt of their club.

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“No, they are not rivals,” he said. “You play together in a team and both want to score goals. That is normal. We want them to score goals. Yes, there are situations where one doesn’t see the other and doesn’t finish the situation off and then we immediately say, ‘what is the reason for that?’

“(But) there is nothing. That is how it is. We are human beings and from time to time we make wrong decisions, but it is nothing personal. We just want to score a goal and realise a little bit later it was the wrong decision. It has nothing to do with any kind of rivalry with another player on your team, it is just the wrong decision.”

Klopp also believes Salah will bounce back against Watford to show his champion’s mentality, even after the devastation of World Cup exit at the peak of his career. “Mindset-wise it is definitely a case of ‘strike back now, more than ever’. This is his kind of mind-set for sure. That is the reaction that is in Mo. He has no real skills for staying down. We are all down from time to time but has no real skills for that.”

Senegal, Morocco lead as Nigeria ranks 3rd in Africa in latest FIFA ranking

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has risen to third position in Africa in the latest FIFA rankings, to place 32nd up from 36th in the world.

In the FIFA list released on Thursday, the three-time African champions also moved two steps up from fifth to third on the continent after a good display at the recently concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

Super Eagles were the only team to emerge from the group stage with nine points after defeating Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau in the preliminary round.

However, the Nigerian team suffered a shocking exit in the second round of the competition as they lost 1-0 to Tunisia.

Senegal’s conquest at AFCON saw the team climb to 18th in the world and the best team in Africa, while Morocco ranked 24th in the world and second on the continent.

African teams earned the largest leap on the FIFA ranking this month with the Gambia climbing 25 places to 125th on the globe.

Sadio Mane:”I am luckier than Salah”

Sadio Mane is proud to have helped Senegal overcome Egypt and qualify for the World Cup and says he was “luckier” to get the better of Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah.

Senegal beat Egypt on penalties in Tuesday’s qualifying play-off in Dakar after winning 1-0 on the day to level the tie at 1-1 on aggregate.

Mane sunk the decisive spot-kick in a shoot-out overshadowed by the Egypt players – including Salah, who missed the opening kick – being targeted by lasers from the stands.

Senegal’s triumph comes seven weeks on from beating the same opponents – again on penalties – in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

While happy at getting the better of Liverpool colleague Salah, Mane accepts the outcome of both games could have been a lot different.

“I won twice and he lost twice. I was luckier to come out on top,” Mane told OnTime Sports.

“I am very proud that we won the Africa Cup of Nations and now qualified for the World Cup, it’s a dream I had.

“It was a difficult game for both teams. Our fans pushed us to win and we didn’t stop fighting. We knew the game wouldn’t be easy but we pressed to score.”

Senegal join Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco and Cameroun to qualify for the world cup in Qatar 2022.

Portugal gets a ticket to World Cup Qatar 2022

Portugal beat North Macedonia 2-0 and Poland saw off Sweden by the same score in play-off finals on Tuesday to book their places in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Bruno Fernandes scored both goals for Portugal to overcome the Balkan nation that had knocked out European champions Italy in a stunning result last week.

Italy’s shock exit had North Macedonia dreaming of their first ever appearance at a World Cup finals but Portugal proved a step too far in Porto.

Fernandes set Portugal on their way at the Estadio do Dragao by finishing off Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass in the first half and then put the victory beyond doubt in the second, connecting with a sublime cross from Diogo Jota.

The victory means Portugal extend their run of qualifying for all six of the World Cups since the turn of the century while Manchester United forward Ronaldo is on course for his fifth, aged 37.

Ronaldo’s best previous result was reaching the semi-finals in 2006, when Portugal were beaten by Germany.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said: “I would like to congratulate the players for their attitude and their quality. We controlled the match in a very clear way.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi leads Europe’s top 5 leagues assist list in 2022

Argentina icon, Lionel Messi is widely considered to be the greatest player in the history of the sport, with the striker winning numerous professional and individual honours during his career so far, including a record seven Ballon d’Or awards.

Messi has come in for criticism for his slow start to life at Paris Saint-Germain as he is yet to recapture the form he showed at Barcelona, but WhoScored has now revealed that despite his lack of goals, the striker has been brilliant as a playmaker in 2022.

As per WhoScored, the 34-year-old has registered four assists in the Ligue 1 so far this calendar year which is the highest among all the players in Europe’s top-five leagues. Messi has so far registered assists against Nantes, Reims, Lille OSC and Rennes in league play in the calendar year.Overall, the Argentina skipper has registered eight assists so far in the league and barring a notable drop in performance in the remainder of the season, he should tally for 10-plus assists in his debut campaign in Ligue 1.

Ex-Manchester United defender Patrice Evra visits Oshodi,Lagos,Nigeria

Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has shared a video of himself in the heart of Lagos in Oshodi in the company of the promoters of the Chess in the Slum organisation.

Evra in the one-minute video shared on his Twitter handle on Saturday was all smiles as he was hailed by fans who repeatedly shouted ‘Evra Bus stop.

Evra who later went on to meet the ‘street kids’ being taught chess and being given a new sense of life through the Chess in the Slum organisation said he was impressed.

Before showing up in Oshodi on Saturday, Evra had dropped a hint he was making a maiden visit to Nigeria where he knew his nickname was ‘Evra Bus Stop.’

**Patrice Evra in Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria**

Watch the video here👆

Argentina vs Venezuela highlights

Lionel Messi: Argentina star was back to his best in superb display against Venezuela

Arg vs Ven highlight

Argentina put on a show for their fans in its final 2022 World Cup qualifying home match with a dominant 3-0 win over last-place Venezuela, inspired by a man-of-the-match performance from captain Lionel Messi, who may have also played the final home qualifier of his international career.

Messi got the last goal for the Albiceleste, who had already earned qualification for the World Cup a few months back. Nico Gonzalez netted the breakthrough and super sub Angel Di Maria scored the gem of the lot with a delightful chip that whipped the La Bombonera crowd into a frenzy.

Whether or not it was his final home qualifying match, it was easy to tell from the opening minute that Messi was fully engaged and inspired. He played a ‘false nine’ central attacking position and he took charge, probing the Venezuelan backline.

Argentina started the game slow until the hosts finally figured a way through. It was midfielder Rodrigo De Paul who pushed forward unmarked into space and delivered the cross that led to the opening goal by Gonzalez. The Fiorentina forward was crashing the box to meet the service in the 36th minute.

De Paul, who along with Messi and Di Maria was a standout for the winning team, delivered the pass for the second goal and Di Maria did the rest. He danced around the Venezuelan defenders and chipped the goalkeeper, who was well off his line. Moments later, Di Maria combined on a give-and-go with his PSG teammate Messi to get the Argentina captain his goal and the team’s third.

Argentina, which extended its unbeaten streak to 30 matches, has two qualifying matches remaining in Ecuador (Tuesday) and a makeup against Brazil (date to be determined). Venezuela are a lock to finish in last place in the standings, closing out their qualifying campaign on Tuesday against Colombia.

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82nd min.: It’s 3-0 for Argentina! Messi puts Di Maria through and Messi makes the run into the box, where Di Maria finds him. Messi takes it off the chest and scuffs it in. It’s a just reward for what’s been a great game by Messi.

78th min.: Goal Argentina! Fantastic long ball by De Paul to Angel Di Maria, and with the ‘keeper off his line he chips him and the other defenders. It’s a delightful chip that was lofted into the goal. Di Maria was serenaded when he came on and he gave it back to the fans.

Arsenal preparing offer for Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford

The Mirror says the Gunners are in the market for a frontline striker and will add the name of Manchester United’s striker to their hit-list. Mikel Arteta needs a recognised senior forward after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang quit the Emirates for Barcelona.

And both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are currently out-of-contract, leaving the Spaniard short up front.

Rashford has made just nine starts in the Premier League this season and scored just five goals across all competitions. But if Arsenal can secure Champions League football next season, it offers the player the chance to kickstart a career that has hit a downwards cycle in the past 12 months.