Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old French national team and Paris Saint-Germain striker (contract until 2028), has reached another level in the capital. His talent and the approaching end of his contract have naturally attracted considerable interest and speculation. While negotiations have been described as far from straightforward, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was invited by Canal+ to provide an update.
Al-Khelaïfi: “We have a salary cap.”
“We have a salary cap, as everyone knows. The team and the club are paramount. Ousmane is a club legend. I adore Ousmane as a player and as a person. People probably don’t know him, but he’s a wonderful person.”
PSG has clearly shifted its philosophy after years of stardom. They still have some truly great players, and they are given the spotlight. But there are certain limits that must be respected. They are set by the club and are inflexible. He is the most important player, along with the team.
Paris already took a very firm stance regarding Gianluigi Donnarumma last summer. Dembélé is not leaving yet, far from it. But the Parisian club will not change its rules for the number 10, regardless of his talent and his importance to last season’s successes.
This mindset can create frustrations, but it seems healthy for team dynamics and beneficial for the collective, both in the long term and in the long run. It’s also worth remembering that there are still very attractive salaries that allow players to live quite comfortably while feeling “important” at the club. It remains to be seen how the discussions with Dembélé will progress. An extension is entirely possible.
