Led by Luis Enrique and following a shift in transfer strategy that paid off immediately, Paris Saint-Germain is finally the new king of the UEFA Champions League. The French capital’s team is still celebrating the title they won in Munich against Inter Milan, with comments coming in from the club’s CEO. Nasser Al-Khelaifi even had messages for Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé.
For many, this current attack is seen as the greatest in the club’s history — and at the same time, a reflection of the failure of PSG’s long-standing transfer approach. For two years, the Argentine, Brazilian, and French stars led the front line, yet they couldn’t make it past the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Despite tensions and disagreements with all three players after their departures, Al-Khelaifi acknowledged Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar as important parts of the club’s journey.
“I have no regrets. Honestly, I have to thank Kylian, because he gave a lot to the club. He, Messi, Neymar, Ibrahimović — all of them. That period was very important for PSG,” said Al-Khelaifi in an interview with France 5. “We’re lucky this year without them, but I still wish them the best, because I have great respect for big stars and great players. Even if we had some conflict, I sincerely wish him the best… except when he plays against us.”
Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé all left Paris under clouds of financial or sporting controversy. Messi was publicly critical of the club’s project, which he only joined after being forced to leave Barcelona. Neymar is widely viewed as one of the biggest flops in PSG history — and only a move to Saudi Arabia spared PSG from paying his wages for years to come. As for Mbappé, now with Real Madrid, the legal dispute between him and PSG seems to be on pause — at least judging by Al-Khelaifi’s recent words. But for PSG, those three represent an era they don’t intend to return to.
“The big day has finally come. Victory, and with the full identity of a team. Congrats, PSG,” wrote Mbappé on social media after Luis Enrique’s side dominated Inter Milan in the final. For the Frenchman, this felt like closure after failing to win the Champions League during his time at the club he’s long referred to as his true love. The closest he came was in 2020, when Bayern Munich edged PSG in the pandemic-era final in Lisbon.
How much did PSG’s Champions League title cost?
It took nearly 14 seasons of Qatari ownership for PSG to finally reach continental glory. According to reports from L’Équipe and Le Parisien, the total investment has reached around €2 billion — spent on player transfers, training facility upgrades, and salaries. This victory marks the first Champions League trophy for a French club since Marseille’s triumph in the early 1990s. No club has ever spent more to win it — not even Manchester City.
Let’s not forget: Qatar installed Nasser Al-Khelaifi as PSG’s CEO in 2011, after purchasing the club for €70 million. After billions in investment and a revamped recruitment philosophy that paid off early under Luis Enrique, the Parc des Princes can now finally declare itself the new king of Europe.
