Entering nearly a month without Paris Saint-Germain football, many of the conversations surrounding the club are about off-the-pitch issues, like what to do with striker Mauro Icardi.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Le10Sport), there’s a potential conflict between Leonardo, PSG’s sporting director, and the manager, Thomas Tuchel. The Italian media is reporting that there are disagreements between the two men concerning Icardi who is at PSG on loan from Inter Milan and has a €70 million option-to-buy clause.
The 27-year-old hasn’t started a match since February against Amiens SC. Since then, Icardi has mainly come off the bench in Ligue 1 matches and domestic cups. Meanwhile, against Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Argentine saw zero minutes.
In the club’s crucial matches, Tuchel has decided to instead go with Edinson Cavani, who, three years ago, would be the right decision. However, the 2020 version of El Matador is one that’s often injured and is to slow to finish the scoring chances that have made him PSG’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Despite the success on the pitch so far, there are rumblings of disagreements between Leonardo and Tuchel. Furthermore, Diario AS reported in February that PSG’s sporting director was scouting current Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi. Whether or not this has changed with the squad advancing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League remains to be seen.
Considering Leonardo didn’t hire Tuchel, it might not be out the question to think he’s not the coach going forward. Also, if the Brazilian feels like Inzaghi or another coach can get the most out of Icardi, perhaps there’s a future for Icardi in Paris.
With Inter Milan moving on from their former captain and Juventus FC looking to extend their current striker Paulo Dybala, there isn’t a top club in Italy needing a striker.
Therefore, unless an Italian club comes out of nowhere that can pay his wages, then perhaps one of his only options to play with elite teammates is to find a way to make it work with PSG.
Nonetheless, the €70 million price tag to keep Icardi in the French capital is steep and with the coronavirus crisis potentially wiping out the 2019-20 season, PSG could ask Inter for an extension on the loan.
Whatever happens, the future of Icardi could depend on whether or not Leonardo wants to keep Tuchel going forward.
What’s a Paris Saint-Germain season without a little drama?
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