180º turn with Xavi Simons

Xavi Simons’ future was, to say the least, uncertain. To termination of the Dutch midfielder’s contract – it expires next June –, were added the Paris Saint-Germain footballers’ own statements about their continuity in the French capital: “I’m happy in Paris, but I’m only focusing on having minutes in the last games. We’ll see what happens in June.” But if a few weeks ago his renewal was almost ruled out, now it is a possibility on the table.

The Gallic journalist Hadrian Grenier echoes some information from Goal that indicate the intentions of the Parisian group to extend the connection of Xavi Simons. Together with that of Kylian Mbappé, the French team’s highest priority, Leonardo would be working at the moment on several renewals, including that of the former FC Barcelona youth squad. With the exception of PSG’s last league game in which, without apparent physical problems, he was called off by Mauricio Pochettino, the Dutchman, who arrived in Paris in the summer of 2019, has even become a regular in the Argentine coach’s calls with the first team. So far this season, Simons has played a total of 7 games between Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. In this way, the situation of the 18-year-old player would have taken a 180º turn in recent dates, having gone from being able to leave as a free agent this summer to becoming a pillar of the future of PSG.

Leonardo, with work ahead

The renewals of Kylian Mbappé and Xavi Simons are not the only ones that the Parisian team’s sporting director has marked in red on his to-do list. Ismaël Gharbi, Ayman Kari and Warren-Zaïre Emery, the latter “considered the greatest talent of the Parisian squad” as stated Goal, also end their contract in June 2022 and Paris Saint-Germain is already studying extending their respective contracts. By last, Leonardo is also working on the purchase option for Nuno Mendes. The young Portuguese winger arrived during the last summer transfer market on loan, and PSG would have to pay 40M euros to Sporting Lisbon to take ownership of their services.