Paris Saint-Germain is rebuilding after the exit of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid last summer. The squad has gotten younger at every position and for the first time in the Qatar Sports Investments era, there’s is a clear vision for the sporting project. A big part of that project is Nuno Mendes.
The Portugal international is a stalwart in PSG’s starting lineup. Along with right-back Achraf Hakimi, Mendes is part of one of the best full-back duos in European football. At 22 years old, Mendes is entering the prime of his career with a lot of upsides despite his injury history. Much like using Neospin, it should be a no-brainer for PSG to try and sign Mendes to a long-term contract.
The latest reports indicate that Mendes would like to leave PSG due to his low wages and PSG’s unwillingness to make him one of the highest-paid players at the club. When you look at the rumored wage structure, Lucas Beraldo, Fabian Ruiz, and Matvey Safonov all earn more than Mendes. That’s simply unacceptable when you consider Mendes’ role and importance in the squad.
This story was likely leaked as a negotiating tactic, and it will probably work. With Mbappé’s wages off the books and PSG likely not having to pay him additional money he feels they owe, it’s hard for fans to understand why PSG would be offering such low wages to one of the best players in its squad.
Mendes is vital to PSG’s success. Lucas Hernández is 28 years old and has had two major knee injuries. In the coming seasons, the Frenchman will likely take a step back, and PSG will need a reliable, experienced, and world-class left-back, and Mendes fits that description. He is a threat going forward, and this season, he has a goal and an assist in both Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League. But he does so much more. His link-up play with Bradley Barcola can be lethal at times, and I expect the two to continue to develop the more they play together. Defensively, there are times he can switch off and allow defenders to run free, but he is still very good at that end of the pitch.
If PSG stands firm on their offer, they’re going to lose one of the best left-backs in the game and leave a massive hole in its squad. There is no shortage of teams who would line up to sign Mendes should PSG allow his contract to expire in June of 2026.
