Money can’t buy the Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain has crashed out of the UEFA Champions League once again. The team fell to German side, Bayern Munich, in the round of 16. After Bayern’s 1-0 win in the first leg, PSG had it all to do as they would travel to Munich for the second leg.

Goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Serge Gnabry saw Bayern win 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. Overall, it has been another very underwhelming campaign for PSG. Despite the recent reports suggesting that manager, Christophe Galtier, is safe for now, not many expect to see Galtier at the helm next season.

PSG manager, Christophe Galtier (Image: Getty Images)

Currently, the team sits ten points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table, but as is often the case, the primary objective was to win the Champions League.

When Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) acquired PSG in 2011, Nasser Al-Khelaifi was named the president. Under Al-Khelaifi’s leadership, a plan was created to change the club and turn it into a European heavyweight that rivaled the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United.

While PSG has dominated their domestic league over the past decade, European success has continued to allude them. During the Al-Khelaifi era, they have been knocked out at both the round of 16 and quarter-final stage four times. The French giants have been to one semi-final which came in the 2020/21 season. Their best finish in the UCL came in 2019/20 when they reached the final. They would lose 1-0 to Bayern Munich, with the goal coming from former player, Kingsley Coman.

Over the years, PSG has tried to win the UCL by predominantly buying superstar players. Their first big purchase was in 2012 when they paid €62 million for Brazilian defender, Thiago Silva and Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Parisians also paid €40 million for Lucas Moura and a further €30 million for Argentinian winger Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The following year, PSG signed Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani from Napoli for a reported €64 million.

In 2014/15, they signed former Chelsea defender David Luiz for nearly €50 million. Even with a bolstered defence, they still fell short but kept pursuing the world’s best. PSG’s methods have been far from secretive. Fans, teams, and football analysts all across the world have continued to criticise the club, not only for its approach but also for its integrity.

Angel Di Maria was the next world-class player to be bought. After a very poor spell at Manchester United, PSG spent €63 million for his services. Between 2015 and 2017, Al-Khelaifi would spend, on average, between €25-40 million on a single player.

In August 2017, PSG sent shockwaves across European football as they bought Neymar for a record-breaking €222 million. It was the first time that any club exceeded €200 million. It was more than twice as much as the previous record of €105 million that Manchester United paid Juventus for French midfielder Paul Pogba.

Neymar at the Parc des Princes after signing his world record deal in 2017 (Image: Getty Images)

French forward, Kylian Mbappe, also joined PSG in 2017. He signed from Monaco on an initial loan but with an option to buy. Mbappe was the best teenager in the world at the time and many believe that he is the one to reach the pinnacle of football like legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

A year on from the ludicrous Neymar sale, PSG broke the bank again as they purchased Mbappe for a staggering €180 million. No other team in the history of football has spent money like this. The French team spent nearly €70 million on Achraf Hakimi in 2017 to make him the most expensive right back of all time.

In total, over €1.3 billion has been spent on player transfers alone. PSG has also signed notable free agents such as Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Keylor Navas, and the standout signing of Lionel Messi.

According to Football Benchmark’s European Champions Report 2023, PSG has recorded the highest-ever wage bill for a professional football club. The value sits at a mind-blowing €728 million a year.

In September 2022, UEFA fined PSG for breaching financial fair play (FFP) regulations. This was to be expected as for so long PSG was in question for breaking FFP rules as they were spending more money than other clubs.

As the curtain draws to a close on PSG’s UCL hunt, the club is faced with many questions. One is what will happen to their front three? Messi is currently on an expiring deal, Neymar is out injured and the feeling surrounding the club is both players could be leaving at the end of the season. Despite signing a new contract until 2025, questions are being asked about Mbappe’s future.

Kylian Mbappe warming up at the Allianz Arena before facing Bayern Munich (Image: Getty Images)

The era of PSG buying the best players the world has to offer could be coming to an end. Time after time the club has failed to deliver in the Champions League and for all the money they have spent and given players, it has only amounted to domestic success. While this may look good for the club, it is evident that because of the financial disparity, there is little to no competition.

For young players with enormous potential, signing for PSG may become less attractive because of the club’s culture and the lack of challenge in the French league. For the club, a different approach is needed. So far PSG has shown the football world that you can’t buy the Champions League.