Messi leaves as a FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina, one who spent his final season in the French capital plundering 16 goals and 16 assists from 32 games as PSG won Ligue 1 Uber Eats a point clear of runners-up RC Lens.
But with Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Jr. also on the books, Paris still have significant firepower, even before signing anyone else. Mbappé scored a league-high 29 goals last season, and Neymar had a goal-involvement of one every 65 minutes he played before undergoing ankle surgery in February.
That doesn’t mean PSG will rest on their laurels this summer. Football Advisor Luis Campos is a shrewd operator, and according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Les Rouge-et-Bleu have already won the race to sign Ramos’ former Real Madrid teammate Marco Asensio on a free.
MNM to MAN?
Asensio may not have scaled the same heights as Messi in his career – who has?! – but he will arrive as a Spain regular, and one who has won just one fewer UEFA Champions League title (three) with Real than Messi did with Barcelona (four).
Asensio, at 27, is also in his prime, and figures to form a fearsome front three with Mbappé and Neymar. He could also be joined in Paris by South Korean starlet Kang-in Lee, the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Ball winner, currently of Real Mallorca.
Further back, Ramos’ departure will leave a hole at the back – insofar as any defence including Marquinhos and Gigio Donnarumma can be considered to have holes – and Martin Skriniar‘s likely arrival on a free from Inter Milan, where he was previously captain, would be a welcome one.
In front of them, Paris have also reportedly bolstered their midfield with the signing of Manuel Ugarte from Sporting CP, beating Chelsea to the Uruguayan in the process. A defensive midfielder to take some of the burden from Marco Verratti, his arrival would also have another positive impact in freeing up Danilo Pereira as a defensive option.
Danilo is a midfielder by trade, but he started 23 games at the back last season compared to just four in midfield, and with Presnel Kimpembe only returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon midway through next season, having the Portuguese and Skriniar available in Ramos’ stead could prove invaluable.
There are more players linked than just Asensio, Skriniar and Ugarte, with Romano claiming that Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva is a top transfer target with Benfica’s Cher Ndour also understood to be keen on a move to the Parc des Princes.
Whether Christophe Galtier or Luis Enrique – as is being reported – will take charge of the squad remains to be seen, but it is clear there will be life after Messi and Ramos at PSG.
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