Paris mayor closes door on Parc des Princes sale to PSG – Get French Football News

Paris Saint-Germain and the French capital authorties’ standoff over the future of Parc des Princes took another turn this Saturday. In an interview with Le Parisien, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has closed the door on a potential sale of the Parc des Princes, a City of Paris asset, to Paris Saint-Germain. “Very clearly, Parc des Princes is not for sale, and it won’t be sold. This is a firm and definitive stance. It is an exceptional piece of heritage for Parisians.“

Last November, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi revealed the club was considering leaving its historic home, claiming that PSG deserve a better stadium. “My first opinion is that we don’t move, but the City of Paris is pushing for us to move,” said PSG’s president. Parc des Princes is a 48.000-capacity stadium. Its expansion and renovation are considered a priority by the PSG board in order to catch up with its European rivals when it comes to generating matchday revenues. The idea of buying the Stade de France, the national stadium with a capacity of 80,000, is no longer an option, Le Parisien report.

A PSG spokesperson stated to Le Parisien that everyone would be the losing side following Hidalgo’s comments. “PSG are now constrained to find alternative options to relocate the club, depriving Paris of a major investment for its attractiveness. This is not the outcome the club and its supporters hoped for.” PSG committed to a €500m outlay for the Parc des Princes provided that the QSI-led club actually owns the ground. Now, relocation to a newly-built stadium is the likeliest option, from PSG’s point of view. “By permanently ending the negotiation regarding the purchase and by refusing our significant investment in order to renovate the Parc, the Mayor is forcing PSG out of its home.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval