Paris Saint-Germain are scheming to strike a blockbuster deal that will see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi play alongside each other for the first time, according to reports.
The Ligue 1 giants have enjoyed a remarkable summer window which was capped by the arrival of six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi on a free transfer following his departure from Barcelona.
According to AS, PSG are bracing themselves to lose Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer in 2022 and want Ronaldo – who is also out of contract next year – to replace him.
Talks between PSG and Mbappe over a new contract have stalled and the Frenchman is now expected to leave Paris, with Real Madrid his preferred destination.
The French side are already keeping tabs on Ronaldo, who will be available on a free transfer, and he is yet to disclose if he wants to extend his stay at Juventus.
PSG have become quite adept at signing up superstars on free transfers, with Messi’s arrival coming after they had already landed Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos without having to pay a single transfer fee.
Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi sent a pointed message to Mbappe following Messi’s arrival, saying: “He said he wanted a competitive team, and you can’t have a more competitive team [than what we have here]. He has no reason to do anything other than stay.”
But in private, the 22-year-old wants to be the main man for whichever club he continues his career with – something which will not be the case at PSG while Messi is in the same team.
