When it looked like Paris Saint-Germain had no hope again, a change in ownership brought about hope. This wasn’t an ordinary change in ownership. It was taken over by the Qataris, and that came with several benefits.
Many were against the Qatari takeover when it was first announced in 2011. But years later, they have settled down and proven that they compete with English Football giants. This article explores how PSG’s revolution has significantly tested its reputation.
The competition that brings PSG and other English clubs together
If you are not an avid football fan, you’ll probably argue that there’s very little union between PSG and the English clubs because they are in two different countries. Well, that is what European competitions are for—they unite teams from all over the world. They also bring the sports and gambling universes together. Now, bettors can potentially capitalize on the massive odds that European football rivalries with teams like PSG bring to sportsbooks. Punters can also stake on individual player performance and other props that attract better odds.
That said, let’s look at how PSG is making it work.
Unlimited financial support
When talking about financial backing, leave it to PSG’s Qatari owners. Their resources far exceeded (and still exceed) what other clubs could match, allowing PSG to sign players for record-breaking fees without hesitation.
However, fans were not ready for this, and many had questions. But Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) couldn’t care less, as they signed players like Javier Pastore, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Thiago Silva, and they were just getting started. In 2017, PSG became the talk of the town after signing Neymar from Barcelona for €222m. This was a transfer fee that doubled the previous world record.
You would think that after this, QSI would take a short break, but nope, they didn’t! Instead, merely weeks later, they followed up with another massive deal for Kylian Mbappe, worth almost €150m.
The transfer market became a stage for PSG to flex its financial prowess, and English clubs couldn’t help but respond by upping their own budgets.
Higher salaries for world-class players
Paying a high transfer fee is one thing, but retaining players with lucrative salary offers is another. QSI has both down to the letter. The club wasn’t just willing to spend big on transfers; they also offered salaries that were nearly unmatched in European football.
For instance, Neymar’s contract earned him over €30m annually. Once again, this set a new threshold for player wages that had never been seen before. The French club then used this to attract top talent and convinced players to choose Paris over other clubs. As a result, English football giants had to fix up and offer more competitive wages to avoid losing out on players they wished to sign or keep.
PSG created a ripple effect that saw player salaries rise across the board.
Better commercial deals and sponsorships
PSG’s resources gave it a master strategy, albeit a risky one. First, they invested heavily in marketing campaigns, pushing the club’s image to appeal to fans across the board. This focus on branding then helped PSG secure major sponsorship deals. Brands such as Nike, Air Jordan, and Accor Live Limitless began knocking on their doors.
Consequently, English clubs, seeing this boost in their European rivals’ appeal, put more effort into their international marketing. They also began focusing on fan engagement campaigns and expanding their social media presence to sign more sponsorship deals.
Club facilities and amenities
When signing world-class players, it’s only natural to want to keep them at that same level or improve them even more. The best way to do this is by providing upgraded training facilities, stadium infrastructure, and other club amenities. PSG’s Qatari owners understood that these state-of-the-art facilities didn’t just help players stay fit. They also helped create an atmosphere of excellence that appeals to the best athletes in the world.
This move by PSG drove English clubs to up their infrastructure game too. For instance, Tottenham chose to build an entirely new stadium, while Manchester United decided to spend more to renovate Old Trafford. These English giants may argue that these decisions are independent of PSG’s influence, but we know better.
Intensified rivalries and increased expectations
In life, a person needs almost no better motivation than seeing their competition thrive. This is the same with football. European football fans demand more from their clubs, especially after seeing all that PSG has done with its team. The pressure to compete with this French club on domestic and European stages has increased pressure on rival teams too.
The result? English clubs must meet these expectations by signing top talents and investing in their squads to remain competitive.
Challenges and questions
PSG’s Qatari-backed approach has made football more action-packed. However, it hasn’t been without its controversy, including:
- QSI’s vast financial resources distort the game and create an uneven playing field.
- Clubs are under more pressure to maintain high revenues to keep up with Qatar’s lavish budget.
- The French club’s focus on superstar signings has raised questions about the long-term sustainability of this model.
Qatari success
It’s not even in question: Qatari-backed PSG has changed European football. Their ownership has brought vast resources and an even bigger vision to make PSG a world-class club that can compete with England’s football giants. But will this model be sustainable? Only time will tell.
