French Ligue 1
Idle asset! PSG to offload Sergio Ramos who pocketed at least £4m in wages, but no match yet
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly refusing to rule out the possibility that they could rescind Sergio Ramos‘ mega-money contract and let him walk away from the club for nothing as his injury nightmare continues.
The Spanish defender moved to PSG on a lucrative free transfer in the summer but is yet to make his debut due to a calf problem that he initially suffered three months ago.
Ramos’ last appearance came in Real Madrid colours during their Champions League semi-final second leg defeat at Chelsea on May 5.
Although reports of Ramos’s salary vary wildly, even conservative estimates of £13million per season (£250,000 per week) would mean that he has already pocketed £4m without playing a single game since signing in July.
However, given his salary at Real Madrid was north of £300,000 per week, it is likely that he has pocketed an even larger sum for sitting in the stands at the Parc des Princes.
His lack of availability is frustrating PSG chiefs and reports in France say they are considering the prospect of tearing up his contract.
French outlet Le Parisien has claimed PSG would be willing to let him walk away from the club if his fitness problems continue to hinder his chances of selection.
It’s reported that the club feel they made a mistake signing the 35-year-old and are now contemplating their next move.
However, they would need to reach an agreement with Ramos first before they can tear up his contract.
‘The trust that some placed in the defender at the time of his signing, or even after his calf injury a few weeks later, is no longer unshakable today,’ reads the report in Le Parisien.
Ramos signed a two-year contract with PSG in the summer and it was hoped he could help the French side win the Champions League title that continues to elude their Qatari owners.
PSG were aggressive in the transfer market, bringing in Ramos, Lionel Messi and Georginio Wijnaldum on free transfers as well as splashing out on the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi.’
They released a statement last week announcing that Ramos would be ‘considered’ for a return to training imminently.
It read: ‘The evolution of Sergio Ramos’ recovery program, co-ordinated by the medical staff, is progressing very well.
‘Continuous resumption with the group may be considered in the course of next week.’
Ramos was also recently criticised by French newspaper L’Equipe when they published a video mocking Ramos’ fitness woes and described him as a ‘ghost’.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side busy an important month as they bid to strengthen their grip on the Ligue 1 title race and qualify from a difficult Champions League group.
They face RB Leipzig on Wednesday night before domestic games against Bordeaux and Nantes are sandwiched between a mouth-watering trip to Manchester City.
-Daily Mail
Paul Pogba has joined AS Monaco on a free transfer after signing a two-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Saturday, as the 32-year-old French midfielder looks to revive his career following a doping ban.
Pogba was handed a four-year doping ban in February 2024 after testing positive for DHEA, which boosts testosterone levels. The suspension was cut to 18 months after a successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Italian club Juventus announced in November that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, which was due to expire in June 2026.
The 2018 World Cup winner had a disappointing second spell with Juventus due to injuries after returning to the Turin-based club following his departure from Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022.
Pogba was signed by United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of 89 million pounds ($122 million) but the four-times Serie A champion won only two trophies with the Premier League club — the League Cup and Europa League in his first season.
He last played for France in 2022 but knee surgery prevented him from appearing at the World Cup in Qatar.
Monaco finished third behind Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain and Olympique de Marseille last season.
-Reuters
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After Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi signed a contract extension with French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain, he became the World’s most-paid fullback.
The Moroccan international will earn a staggering €70 million in wages over his new five-year deal, cementing his status as football’s highest-paid defender.
He signed a contract extension with the French champions until 2029. The new deal adds three years to his previous contract, which was set to expire in 2026.
His net salary is increasing from €10 million to €14 million per season (€28 million gross).
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The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee and Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, is almost certain to leave the Serie A in the coming winter transfer window following interest from Premiership but the biggest interest is from Paris Saint Germaine.
The AFCON 2024 silver medal winner with Nigeria has been on the radar of the London side, West Ham United and three other sides from the league but all is more certain that the London club will find it difficult to compete for the signature of Atalanta star according to Football Insider.
Reports have suggested that the Irons are ready to swoop for the Nigeria international in the January transfer window.
However, sources say there will be “huge interest” from Europe in the 27-year-old ex-Everton star.
Paris Saint-Germain will be the frontrunner for the forward if he becomes available in the coming months.
Additionally, Lookman plays in the same area of the pitch as West Ham’s big-money summer signings Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme.
The London-born has raised his stock with his displays for Atalanta since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022.
He finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings this year after leading the Italian side to a Europa League title last term.
Lookman has already hit five goals and contributed five assists in 10 games across all competitions this term.
The forward, who is under contract until June 2026, hit 17 goals and notched 10 assists in 45 appearances last season.
West Ham are unlikely to have serious funds to spend in the January window after their lavish spending in the off-season.
Julen Lopetegui’s side started slowly and sat 13th in the Premier League after nine games.
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