PARIS St Germain - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Talking points from European soccer

Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: FRANCE NICE IN A RUT Nice's promising start to the season feels like a distant memory as they extended their winless streak to six league matches with a 2-1 loss to Montpellier on Friday. Manager Francesco Farioli admitted it was a difficult time for the club, which seemed unstoppable just four months ago. "The efforts the players put in to keep the team at the top of the table for six months required a lot of physical and mental energy," he said. With Nice in sixth place and 16 points behind…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Mbappe, Cameroon-born French superstar has no problem with coach

FOOTBALL

KYLIAN Mbappe said he has "no problems" with manager Luis Enrique after playing the full 90 minutes for Paris St Germain for the first time since February 14, the forward scoring both goals in their 2-1 Champions League win at Real Sociedad. The France captain, who scored either side of half-time to help PSG reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2021, informed the Ligue 1 club last month that he would leave them as a free agent at the end of the season. Mbappe came off the bench in a 2-0 win over Nantes last month and was substituted in…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

ITALY NAPOLI'S MAZZARRI FACES DEFENSIVE CHALLENGES Walter Mazzarri's spell as Napoli manager got off to a fine start with a 2-1 win at Atalanta on Sunday but he must now address defensive issues ahead of crucial matches. Defender Mathias Olivera was taken off on a stretcher after slipping and is set for an extended period on the sidelines. The injury to the Uruguay international has put Mazzarri in a difficult position as the Napoli squad currently lacks any available left-backs, with Mario Rui also sidelined. First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret could bring some relief as his recovery from a calf injury…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: SPAIN GIRONA KEEP IMPRESSING IN BELLINGHAM'S LALIGA Real Madrid's England midfielder Jude Bellingham has dominated headlines again after another magnificent performance, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 win at Barcelona on Saturday. But Real do not have LaLiga's title race all their own way as Girona are level on 28 points with the Spanish giants after beating Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday, their ninth win in 11 games. The surprise package of the season so far, Girona's 3-0 defeat at home to Real in late September are the only points dropped…

Jul

2023

By The African Mirror

Mbappe “honoured” to tour father’s native Cameroon

NEWS

PARIS St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe is touring his father's native Cameroon for the first time this week as doubts swirl over his future at the French club. Excited fans gathered at the airport in the capital Yaounde, where the 24-year-old star touched down on Thursday for a three-day tour of the central African nation. "It is an honour for me to be here, to be in the country of my origin, to be with my family and to see the people out there. They have shown me some love," Mbappe said on Friday after meeting Cameroon's Prime Minister Joseph…

Jul

2023

By The African Mirror

PSG appoint Enrique as new coach to replace Galtier

FOOTBALL

PARIS St Germain has appointed former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique as their new manager on a two-year contract after the Ligue 1 champions parted ways with Christophe Galtier. Enrique led Barcelona to a treble in the 2014-15 season while he guided Spain to the semi-finals of the 2020 European Championship. He left the national team after they were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup in the last-16. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Messi says he struggled to adapt after PSG move, some fans treated him differently

FOOTBALL

LIONEL Messi said he and his family had trouble adapting after his move to Paris St Germain in 2021, and he said the boos and jeers directed at him towards the end of his stint was something teammates Kylian Mbappe and Neymar also endured. The Argentine great did not renew his contract with PSG this month after two years and he announced on June 7 that he will join MLS side Inter Miami, leaving some fans disappointed with his performance. While Messi recorded 32 goals and 35 assists in his two seasons with the French champions, a rift with the…

Jun

2023

By RORY CARROLL

‘I’m going to Miami’ – Messi confirms move to MLS

FOOTBALL

LIONEL Messi announced that he intends to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami as a free agent after parting ways with French champions Paris St Germain and snubbing a lucrative contract offer in Saudi Arabia. Messi, who played his final game for PSG over the weekend, was also linked with a return to Barcelona but the Spanish club have had their hands tied due to LaLiga's financial fair play rules. "I made the decision that I'm going to go to Miami," Messi said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo and Sport newspapers. "I still haven't closed it 100%. I'm still missing…

Jun

2023

By The African Mirror

Saturday’s game to be last of Messi ‘this season’, says club

SPORT

PARIS ST GERMAIN's home game against Clermont will not necessarily be Lionel Messi's last for the capital side, a club source said after coach Christophe Galtier said it would be 'his last match at the Parc des Princes'. Messi, who has 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, moved to the French capital from Barcelona in 2021 on a two-year contract. He has not yet renewed his deal with the Ligue 1 champions. "It will be his last game this season," the source told Reuters. The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to the World Cup title…

May

2023

By RAMIRO SCANDOLO

Messi receives offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal

SPORT

LIONEL Messi has received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season, a source close to Argentina's World Cup-winning captain said. The offer from the Saudi club is the only one Messi has received so far, the source added. Argentine media have reported that the offer is worth around $400 million a year. Al-Hilal did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of normal business hours. The 35-year-old Messi has also been linked in the media with a move back to his boyhood club Barcelona, with the United States Major League Soccer club Inter Miami…