Paris Saint-Germain vs Al-Nassr
Luis Enrique will take charge of his first game as PSG boss when the Ligue 1champions head to Japan to take on Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo and all, in a Club Friendly.
Fans will pack into the Nagia Stadium on Tuesday 25th July, hoping to see some of the biggest names in world football. It’s the second time the French side have played against some of the Saudi stars after they beat an all star Riyadh team in January when Lionel Messi scored in a 5-4 win, while Al-Nassr megastar Ronaldo netted twice for Riyadh.
Of course, Messi won’t be meeting his old nemesis this time around after he jetted off to join Inter Miami in the summer. But the French side will have plenty of quality in their side as Enrique begins to mould his team.
Talking Points
Neymar to stay at PSG
Here at SBOTOP we have been wondering who would replace Kylian Mbappe at PSG should the player finally leave the club, and there are plenty of candidates. But the big Club Friendly 2023 news this week is that Brazilian star Neymar has confirmed he is happy to stay at the Parc des Princes for the 2023-24 campaign.
After his mate Messi left for Miami, I suspected Neymar would leave too, but he now seems happy to stay in France after he put in a brilliant showing last season, scoring 18 goals and making 17 assists before a serious ankle injury put an end to his campaign in February.
The Club Friendly 2023 betting odds will back PSG with or without Neymar, but this is certainly good news for the club.
The saga surrounding Mbappe’s future, with the France star has been heavily rumoured to be on his way, may have persuaded Neymar that he is needed in Paris, and he may be the top dog in a new look attacking lineup next term.
The PSG owners have taken steps to end the Mbappe circus by offering him a reputed £1 billion over 10 years according the Spanish media, and that has angered fans who would be happy to drive Mbappe to Madrid if Los Blancos finally sign him.
One fan tweeted: “If this is true, this is the saddest thing the club has ever done.”
Mbappe has already said he won’t extend his contract beyond 2024, so the PSG fans have clearly had enough.
Can money buy Al-Nassr some real success?
Managed by Luis Castro and with a second placed finish last term, Al-Nassr are one of the most ambitious clubs in the Middle East. Of course, money talks in the Saudi Pro League, and Al-Nassr have the most glittering star in world sport, the great CR7.
Ronaldo earns gazillions every time his people post something on social media, such is his commercial appeal, and his recruitment was a masterstroke by Al-Nassr bosses who have seen their club’s profile grow massively.
But success off the pitch is a long way ahead of progress in terms of quality on the grass.
Ronaldo, at 38 years of age, can only do so much, and he was embarrassed when former Real Madrid teammate Angel Di Maria beat him with a cheeky flick during Al-Nassr’s recent 4-1 drubbing by Benfica.
As Ronaldo chased him down, Di Maria turned and flicked the ball over his head leaving CR7 fuming, so much so that he clattered into his former buddy with a crunching tackle moments later.
Despite earning more money in an hour than most people do in a year, Ronaldo hates losing, and he wasn’t best pleased when his team was thrashed 5-0 by Celta Vigo last week.
I suppose 4-1 is an improvement.
Al-Nassr are spending again, and the €18 million transfer of Croatian destroyer Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan is a marquee signing. At 30 years of age, the midfielder is still in his prime, so he will improve the Saudi’s hugely.
History
This is the first time these two teams have met, though there were plenty of Al-Nassr players featuring for Riyadh All-Stars in that 5-4 defeat back in January. PSG’s Julian Bernat was sent off in the first half, which may have helped the Saudis somewhat.
Al-Nassr have won the Saudi Pro League nine times, the last occasion being in 2019. Meanwhile, Ligue 1 champions PSG won their 11th title in 2023.
Well, if PSG put out a strong side, I suspect Al-Nassr will struggle to better their 4-1 defeat to Benfica. But if the French get an early red card, that might help. Oh, and if the Saudis do get a goal, it’ll be CR7 on the scoresheet of course.
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