PSG trying to lure Atletico’s Diego Simeone to Paris
By Marcel Dumas
PSG is running out of patience in its Champions League quest and Diego Simeone may be their solution.
When Paris Saint-Germain was bought by Qatari investors in 2011, it signaled a new day for the club and for Ligue 1. The goal from day one was to put together a team that not only won domestic titles, but one that would bring home European glory as well.
While the domestic silverware has piled up over the past five years, the Champions League runs have hit a wall during the quarterfinal stages. With the ultimate goal continually falling short, change is most likely on the way.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving on this summer, PSG already has one major hole to fill, but that may not be the only major change coming. Club manager Laurent Blanc may be at the end of his Paris tenure despite signing a two-year extension earlier this year.
Reports are gaining steam that PSG are in talks with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone about taking over in Paris. Simeone has taken Atletico to the Champions League final two of the last three years.
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Blanc’s success domestically is evidently not enough. His undoing most likely came in the ousting of PSG from the Champions League by Manchester City. Blanc’s inability to move PSG any further along in the competition has most likely cost him the opportunity to try again.
If PSG are able to convince Simeone to take the reins, it could be quite the coup for the capital city club. While Simeone has worked with excellent talent in his current role, Atletico cannot match the financial firepower of PSG. This will allow Simeone to add significant talent to an already loaded squad.
With players like Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria, Marco Veratti, Lucas Moura and Thiago Silva at his disposal, Simeone has a great core of players to work with. His recent success at Atletico should also serve as a good recruiting tool for bringing reinforcements in.
If PSG is successful in capturing Simeone’s signature, the elusive European glory should be within reach. It will be sad for Atletico Madrid fans if he chooses to leave. He has accomplished so much in Madrid and made them a force to be reckoned with in what was a two team league.
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Any decision regarding Simeone will have a ripple effect throughout the footballing world. Few managers are as highly regarded at this time. If the rumors are true, then his decision will have a significant impact on two major clubs. The effect on player transfers for both PSG and Atletico could be significant. Welcome to the madness of the summer transfer season.