While Paris Saint-Germain’s U19 team is enjoying a remarkable run in the Youth League (the equivalent of the Champions League for this age group), with a quarter-final match against Villarreal this Tuesday at 4 p.m CET., L’Equipe has highlighted a persistent concern for the club. Indeed, PSG is far from certain of securing professional contracts for several of its academy players, who are considering leaving for other opportunities.
“The signing of 18-year-old Dro Fernandez has made a strong impression.”
“Yohan Cabaye and his team, aware of the symbolic damage caused by last summer’s departures, chose to anticipate the situation by offering professional contracts at the end of the year to Martin James, Arthur Vignaud, Hermann Malonga, Samba Coulibaly, Mathis Jangeal, Pierre Mounguengue, and others. To date, none of them have signed an agreement. The circumstances and motivations vary. But the signing of 18-year-old Dro Fernandez has made a strong impression.
The questions surrounding a future in Paris are also fueled by what the young players have seen with the first team since January. The fact that Mbaye has disappeared, or almost disappeared, from the rotation has not gone unnoticed. The very quick returns of Noah Nsoki, David Boly, and Mathis Jangeal to the youth teams have also been significant.
“What strikes us is the lack of substance in what Paris is offering in terms of a sporting project,” explains an influential agent at the academy. “You get the impression that Paris wants to lock in its players rather than develop them.”
“What’s missing is telling them, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do with you for the next three years.’”
“We have to be realistic. If it hadn’t been for these injuries, there wouldn’t have been so many young players being approached by professionals,” explains someone close to another young player. “You don’t have a guaranteed first-team spot at PSG, and that’s perfectly normal; it’s the reality of big clubs. But what’s missing is telling them, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do with you for the next three years.’”
The financial aspect shouldn’t be overlooked either. Paris isn’t willing to see the salaries of first-team players skyrocket. English and German clubs, on the other hand, are ready to be more generous.
It’s understandable that young players trained in Paris are questioning their future, given how difficult it is to secure a place in the first team. The signing of Dro Fernandez, an 18-year-old midfielder whose contract with FC Barcelona was expiring, was an interesting opportunity for PSG but also a setback for the youth academy players. They saw the competition become more intense, especially with the addition of another young player.
However, that’s life at the highest level. Playing time isn’t guaranteed; you have to earn it and accept the competition. It’s rare for a club fighting for a Champions League title to bring several young players into its squad every year. This season, we’re already seeing Warren Zaïre-Emery (a midfielder who recently turned 20) and Senny Mayulu (a 19-year-old midfielder) playing regularly.
Ibrahim Mbaye (an 18-year-old striker) has had opportunities, even earning a place in the Africa Cup of Nations squad this winter and winning it. We shouldn’t overlook him too much in his overall assessment, despite a somewhat complicated return. The season isn’t over, and he’ll certainly be able to play again. Now, you have to fight and stay focused every day to earn playing time and make the most of it.
There’s also merit in what a player’s entourage is saying. A PSG youth player can understand that securing an immediate place is difficult, but a plan is still necessary. Without necessarily promising playing time at PSG, there’s the possibility of a loan to gain experience while remaining connected to Paris. The problem is that good options are sometimes very hard to find. We’ve seen with many players that a loan isn’t a guarantee of progress either.
We hope that PSG will be able to convince its most promising young players to continue nurturing this important connection. But we must keep in mind that this will only be for a few players. And ultimately, few of those who have left have managed to break through at the highest level.
