Paris Saint-Germain has shifted its philosophy from pursuing big-name players to building a team that can lead them to UEFA Champions League glory. However, this shift is affecting the club’s financial side as the latest report reveals.
In the last two years, PSG have waved goodbye to Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappé and the Ligue 1 side opted not to bring in a superstar player to replace them.
Moreover, before these three players, the Parisians had Zlatan Ibrahimović, so since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011, there’s been a big-name player in the starting 11 for most of their ownership.
Qatar suffers with no superstar player on the squad
Lionel Messi
Julian Finney/Getty Images
According to*L’Équipe*, Qatar has taken a step back from Paris Saint-Germain’s day-to-day operations since the 2022 World Cup.
The Emir of Qatar, who was previously heavily involved in major decisions like signing stars such as Neymar and Messi, has reportedly reduced his involvement due to frustrations with the attitudes of certain high-profile players.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi now holdscomplete control at PSG. While Qatar has no immediate plans to sell its stake in the club, sources close to the Emir suggest he might consider selling if an extraordinary offer is made.
Qatar has taken a step back regarding decisions at PSG since the World Cup 2022. Previously, the Emir of Qatar used to decide on signing stars (Neymar, Leo Messi, etc.) and strategic decisions — now he has decided to sit slightly back in terms of being invested daily in PSG due… pic.twitter.com/xylKKokJBC
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) December 4, 2024
The club has also seen a sharp decline in merchandise sales, both at its Champs-Élysées store and online, following the departure of the MNM trio. At its height, the Champs-Élysées store generated daily revenues of over €100,000, but now it often struggles to surpass €10,000.
The absence of global stars like Messi has further impacted online engagement, matchday ticket sales, and sponsorship deals. PSG’s popularity in France is now at its lowest level since 2016—when the team similarly lacked marquee players.