Paris Saint-Germain’s ascendance to true, top-flight European destination is complete, with their combination of wages, location, and level-of-competition making the Parc de Princes one of the world’s top 10 destinations. Yet even among that elite group, there’s an elite tier. Manchester United found that out when they lost Cristiano Ronaldo. Arsenal found it out when they lost Cesc Fabregas.
Now PSG is fighting to keep one of their best players from the draw of Spain’s big two. Thiago Silva, who only arrived in France last summer, seems ready to move to Barcelona, if this morning’s reports are to be believed. And if they’re not to be believed, there’ll be another report next week. Silva to Barcelona is something that won’t go away until Silva’s in Barcelona.
The Brazilian international, who rose to prominence after his transfer from Fluminense to AC Milan, apparently wanted to move to Cataluyna last year yet elected to try France because of his relationship with PSG president Leonardo, who had worked with the Brazilian in Italy. But with that tribute paid, Silva’s ready to move on, something PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi is dead set on preventing.
It’s a tough situation for the Parisians, if Silva truly wants to go. You never want a disgruntled player in your squad, and when somebody expresses a wish to move elsewhere, it’s usually best to consider a solution, especially when the player can garner a huge fee.
But PSG is still an ascending giant, one that will acquire more Silvas and Zlatan Ibrahimovics before they make a push for Champions League. If those elites talents can’t be convinced to use Paris as more than a weight station en route to other things, PSG will never make progress. They’ll tread water at their current level, one they could transcended if they could combine their prodigious talent with some longer-term continuity.
That’s the general theory. The specifics may be different. Silva’s may be an isolated case, one that may not portend the departure of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In addition, with Mamadou Sakho in the squad, PSG has a third starting-caliber center back, one who made more Ligue 1 starts last season than either Silva or Alex. If Barcelona’s willing to make the Silva sale a profitable one — one that far eclipses the $53 million PSG gave Milan for Silva last summer — the Parisians could argue a transfer is in the best interests of the club.
Silva, a late bloomer, will turn 29 in September. His value may never be higher.
All of that seems like post hoc rationale, however. Not to discredit the value of those kinds of evaluations, but PSG didn’t enter the summer intending to sell Silva. They still don’t to sell him, so if Silva ends up at Barcelona, on some level, no matter how much money they make, the move will seem feel like a capitulation.
