The announcement had the effect of a bomb, Paris FC will be bought by French billionaire Bernard Arnault, who will join forces with Red Bull in this gigantic project likely to compete with PSG in the long term.
Fantasized for many years, the project of a second very large club in Paris is about to see the light of day. Indeed, Paris FC, current leader of Ligue 2, will be bought by French billionaire Bernard Arnault. In this colossal project, the boss of LVMH will join forces with Red Bull, whose expertise in sport no longer needs to be demonstrated. On paper, all this seems very exciting and even if in Le Parisien, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi’s entourage says « enthusiastic » to the idea of seeing a second top club in Paris, the reality could be more difficult for Paris Saint-Germain. On RMC, journalist Thibaud Leplat explained that the emergence of a second club, supported by a French investor, could have negative consequences for PSG.
A huge desertion from the club owned by Qatar is to be expected according to the editor-in-chief of La revue de l’After. “For months I have been calling for the investment of a French industrialist in football, beyond Pinault (in Rennes). I’m very happy that it’s happening, plus the alliance with Red Bull seems like a good idea to me, because it avoids doing big stupid things straight away, getting screwed by the agents, etc. On the political question, it’s a huge thorn in Nasser Al-Khelaïfi’s side in my opinion” first explained the journalist in After Foot, before continuing on the potential consequences of a takeover of the PFC by Bernard Arnault for PSG.
PSG brutally deserted, the fear is immense
“It’s a turning point because politically, no one will be able to defend PSG in a duel with Paris FC, who will have behind him the French investors, the CAC 40 and everyone who will rush to the PFC to polish the hand of Bernard Arnault. Opposite, PSG is a foreign company involved in a whole host of affairs and which has a sulphurous reputation. If you also leave the Parc des Princes, you lose lots of supporters who tell you ‘if PSG leaves the Parc, it’s over’. There is such disenchantment with management, it’s a huge twist, for me Paris SG is in danger on this matter” concluded Thibaud Leplat, very worried about the long-term future of PSG, even if it is not uncommon to see two clubs in the same city in Europe, as demonstrated by the examples of Madrid, London or Milan. But in terms of image, the comparison between a French PFC and a Qatari PSG could be fatal for the French champion.
