PARIS—As Paris Saint-Germain secured their spot in the Champions League final and moved just 90 minutes away from achieving European supremacy, the three most significant acquisitions in the team’s history were not present in the city of Paris.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar—who had all been brought in specifically for this objective—were now dispersed across different leagues: Messi went to Spain, Mbappé headed to Brazil, and Neymar moved to South Florida. These three global megastars were meant to propel Paris Saint-Germain to new heights and secure their maiden UEFA Champions League title.
Rather, they turned into symbols of an costly endeavor that backfired.
Now that PSG has defeated Arsenal with scores of 2-1 on Wednesday and 3-1 cumulatively, they are moving towards their largest game in over five decades following an incredibly remarkable transformation in football. Over just two years, this squad has transitioned from being a dilapidated vanity project burdened by expensive prima donnas to becoming the youngest and most talented group to advance through the Champions League knockout stages.
This has consistently been one of my goals: to provide our fans with an entertaining spectacle,” stated PSG manager Luis Enrique. “Audiences pay for a performance, and football is no exception.
Recently, Paris has stepped up its game. After an underwhelming beginning to its Champions League season—with the team nearly exiting during the group stages against Manchester City in January—the squad bounced back with a remarkable win. Following this turnaround, PSG defeated their French competitor Brest and went on to beat three English teams consecutively: Liverpool, Aston Villa, and most recently, Arsenal. In its last ten European matches, the club has netted an impressive total of 29 goals.
I have consistently supported my team during the entire competition,” Luis Enrique stated. “Initially, we played well, yet lacked efficiency. As this aspect improved, we demonstrated that we rightfully earned our place in the finals.
The team that Paris will meet on May 31 in Munich, Inter Milan, also knows a thing or two about constructing a roster without superstars—though for decidedly different reasons. The Italian club has spent the past five years digging itself out of a dire financial situation that saw it run up debts of $900 million before being seized by a distressed asset investor last year.
As a consequence, Inter’s most expensive signing in recent years turned out to be a midfielder acquired from one of the less prominent clubs in Serie A for around $35 million, which is considered moderate in football circles. This same midfielder, Davide Frattesi, went on to score the decisive goal in extra time during Tuesday’s match against Barcelona, propelling Inter into the finals.
Among this pieced-together Internazionale team, other budget-friendly stars shine through as well. Denzel Dumfries, the Dutch right-back signed for around $16 million, played a crucial role by contributing either a goal or an assist in five instances throughout both legs of the semifinals. Another standout player is Italy’s Francesco Acerbi, a seasoned 37-year-old defender known for overcoming significant challenges such as battling testicular cancer, grappling with depression, and dealing with alcohol issues during his career. Despite these obstacles, he managed to score Inter’s pivotal equalizing goal against Barcelona.
“Only a mighty Inter could deliver such extraordinary displays on the field,” remarked Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi following the thrilling 4-3 win. “I am honored to lead this team; they left nothing behind for me.”
Besides reinventing themselves for this run at the title, Paris and Inter do have one other thing in common: Both have fallen at the last hurdle in the past five years. PSG reached its first ever Champions League final in 2020, only to lose 1-0 to Bayern Munich, while the Italian finished as runner-up to Manchester City in 2023.
Between the two, PSG has experienced a much more dramatic change. Since the team came under the ownership of a branch of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund back in 2011, their main aim has been to claim one of European football’s most prestigious trophies. However, over thirteen continuous seasons, they faced constant disappointment when they channeled their substantial investments into well-known veteran players who often faltered in the last sixteen or eight matches.
Actually, the sole team in Europe that has played more games than Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League but hasn’t clinched the title is Arsenal.
The departures of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe forced Paris Saint-Germain to seriously reflect on its identity as a team. Despite having substantial Qatari funding, the strategy had to be adjusted. This led PSG to adopt a new approach and field a younger roster, averaging just above 24 years old, during their run in the knockout stages this season.
This investment focused on young talent, swiftness, and revitalization initiatives, including promising 19-year-old striker Desiré Doué and unpredictable winger Ousmane Dembélé. When seeking an element of style, the team took a unconventional route by acquiring Georgian skillful player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli during the previous winter transfer window.
Kvaratskhelia was the one who alleviated the tremendous pressure on PSG during their match against Arsenal on Wednesday evening when goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma withstood a relentless 17-minute attack from the opposing team. After breaking away on the left flank, the Georgian player struck the post, energizing the crowd at the Parc des Princes.
Stressful,” PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi stated. “It felt like almost having a heart attack.
A mere ten minutes into the game, the home team scored their first goal. Midfielder Fabian Ruiz, acquired for an impressive sum of only $25 million, capitalized on a misplaced ball after a corner kick. He skillfully used his chest to steer the ball clear of a defending player before launching a powerful shot with his left foot, sending the ball flying into the net.
Bearing down as a defender, Achraf Hakimi scored a second goal for Paris in the 72nd minute, which made it simple to overlook his previous missed penalty—and far simpler still to erase memories of PSG’s galactico era shortcomings.
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