It’s no secret that Paris Saint-Germain players are highly compensated for their services. Their wages are often used as a reason to explain why so many world-class players would choose to play in Ligue 1 instead of a more high-profile league like the Premier League or La Liga.
According to a report from L’Equipe, we have a better understanding of just how well PSG players are paid and how those figures stack up against other players in the French first division.
The highest-paid Ligue 1 players all play for PSG 💰
(via @lequipe) pic.twitter.com/vxhFPKxzwj
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 7, 2020
As you would expect, Neymar Jr. is the best-compensated player in France with an estimated gross monthly salary of €3.06 million. His friend and teammate Kylian Mbappé is a distant second at €1.91 million.
Even if these are estimates, that’s quite a gap between first and second. Both Neymar and Mbappé are vital to PSG’s success and you have to think the Leonardo, PSG’s sporting director, will look to bring Mbappé’s wages close to what Neymar makes with a contract extension.
The rest of the top 10 earners in Ligue 1 looks like this (hint: it’s all PSG players):
3. Thiago Silva – €1.5 million
4. Edinson Cavani – €1.345 million
5. Marquinhos and Marco Verratti – €1.2 million
7. Angel Di Maria- €1.1 million
8. Keylor Navas – €1 million
9. Mauro Icardi – €800,000
10. Leandro Paredes – €750,000
A non-PSG player doesn’t make an appearance until AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder who earns €650,000, which is good enough for the 12th-highest earner in Ligue 1.
Other than Neymar making so much more than anyone else, the other aspect that stands out to me is how poorly the other big French clubs spend their money.
Olympique de Marseille pays Kevin Strootman and Dimitri Payet €500K each per month (tied for 16th in Ligue 1), which is more than much better players like Pablo Sarabia (€450K, PSG), Abdou Diallo (€450K, PSG), Memphis Depay (€420K, Olympique Lyonnais), Thilo Kehrer (€410K, PSG), and Anthony Lopes (€400K, Olympique Lyonnais).
Furthermore, while Monaco are getting a great return on Ben Yedder, the same cannot be said for Cesc Fàbregas, who is in the twilight of his career but still manages to earn a staggering €600K per month, which is tied for 14th in Ligue 1.
If other big French teams want to compete with PSG, they have to be smarter with their money. For example, why the hell are Stade Rennais paying 31-year-old Steven Nzonzi €400K per month? Why not use those funds and try and convince 17-year-old Eduardo Camavinga to stay another couple of seasons with a lucrative contract extension. To me, that would be money well spent and then they would be able to compete in Europe the following season.
While Ligue 1 must secure more lucrative broadcast contracts to funnel more money throughout the league, teams have to do a better job of spending the money they have wisely. PSG certainly has.
Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG Talking, The 1970, and 24th & Parc.
