Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s words were oddly incriminating. Speaking with Le Parisien last month, PSG’s president outlined a new vision amid a summer revolution. In doing so, he appeared to admit a decade of mistakes. “Dreaming is one thing, reality is another,” explained Al-Khelaifi. “Maybe we should change our [‘Dream Bigger’] slogan. It’s good but these days we have to be realistic more than anything. We don’t want to be flashy or bling-bling anymore, it’s the end of the glitter.”

In truth, these ideas aren’t his. In an unusual display of deference, Al-Khelaifi was parroting new de-facto sporting director Luis Campos’ ideas on running PSG. However, admitting Paris needed to be realistic while conceding QSI had indulged in ‘Bling-Bling’ acknowledged the superficial, celebrity-pandering nature of the Paris project and that years of policy decisions effectively amounted to a series of fundamental mistakes. An ideology built upon over six managers, countless signings and 11 seasons was being disavowed.

In that time, QSI ownership became synonymous with excess, a scattergun recruitment policy and obsessive ambition. Although that ‘Bling-Bling’ strategy failed to bring the European success PSG crave, publicly rejecting it is bizarre on two fronts. Firstly, the club’s glamorous brand was deliberately invented by QSI who wanted to be associated with their purpose-built galacticos winning in style in the world’s most fashionable city. ‘Bling-Bling’ wasn’t an accident. Realism and the shrewd backwater transfer dealings of Campos represent the opposite set of ideas.

Secondly, Campos’ new anti-Bling ideas don’t suit Champions League success either. Although Bling-Bling itself resulted in a haughty institution, the marginalisation of the club’s academy and a lopsided squad, Paris still needed to focus on signing established players, ideally Europe’s best. Campos, meanwhile, is “in love with signing players for between €0m to €3m or €3m to €6m,” as the Portuguese explained in 2020. “Players who will be worth much more in the future.” Despite his mastery of that philosophy, very few Campos signings, which helped Monaco and Lille win shock Ligue 1 titles in 2017 and 2021, have ever reached the level PSG need to aid a consistent Europe challenge, while the club haven’t ever been (and still aren’t) in a position to provide the right environment for those that have.

Al-Khelaifi identifying his policies as ‘Bling-Bling’ is shocking in itself. As well as the term being overtly synonymous with the superficiality that Paris are often criticised for, both right-back Thomas Meunier and forward Pablo Sarabia used the term to publicly lambast the club as recently as February. “At PSG, there are many stars. Here at Sporting, I found a family,” said Sarabia while on loan in Lisbon. “The mentality is great too, we are very far from bling-bling.” A few days earlier, Meunier damningly compared his new club Borussia Dortmund to PSG in L’Équipe: “We’re far away from bling-bling. When you make a mistake, you’re reminded that you’re in a working-class town. Here, we don’t treat people as consumers.”

Despite Al-Khelaifi’s lurch across the spectrum, QSI’s reported pursuit of Zinedine Zidane earlier this summer hinted at an internal power struggle between the engrained Bling-Bling approach and Camposism. Christophe Galtier’s appointment as coach shows Campos has prevailed but little would’ve changed had Zidane been receptive to Parisian advances. Despite being championed by Campos, Galtier owes his new job to Zidane repeatedly turning it down.

Galtier’s appointment on a tentative two-year contract feels like a begrudging experiment by QSI and Al-Khelaifi, one oddly born out of Bling-Bling. While Campos’ common sense is refreshing (ending the club’s pursuit of Ousmane Dembélé due to persistent injuries and attitude issues, for example) his own appointment came from the club’s desperate attempts to convince Kylian Mbappé to sign a new contract. His relationship with Campos’ predecessor, Leonardo, reportedly frosty, Mbappé suggested the Portuguese, a friend from their Monaco days together, as a replacement during contract talks earlier this year. Had Mbappé left for Real Madrid, Campos’ signing likely wouldn’t have happened. As a result, PSG’s traditional celebrity-pandering might have brought about its own end.

In turn, Galtier wouldn’t have been appointed without Campos. With minimal coaching experience in the Champions League (Lille’s 19/20 group stage campaign brought just one point) and none managing a club of PSG’s stature, not to mention players like Lionel Messi, Galtier’s appointment is a major departure. Although charismatic and tactically savvy, Galtier is a quintessential Ligue 1 coach – although one just as representative of the more dynamic present as the stoic pre-pandemic past. Like many a Ligue 1 coach, the adaptable but often pragmatic Galtier lacks the clear overarching style of Europe’s leading managers, who he will now be competing with. Realistically, PSG couldn’t get much further from Bling-Bling.

Aside from title success with Lille (and Campos), little from Galtier’s 13-year coaching career qualifies him for his new job. QSI concerns over spending more than €20m to sack Mauricio Pochettino and extricate Galtier from his contract at OGC Nice without an obvious talent upgrade are understandable. That logic could extend to the midfield arrivals of Vitinha from Porto and potentially Lille’s Renato Sanches. Other than Campos’ blessing, little suggests they’ll improve upon Leandro Paredes, Idrissa Gueye and Danilo Pereira. Links with Paul Pogba made more sense given PSG’s goals, obvious comparisons with Dembélé notwithstanding.

Nevertheless, baring a disaster, this version of Camposism will define PSG’s medium term at least. Like Mbappé, Campos’ powers seem to extend beyond his usual role – and those of his predecessor. As well as enjoying absolute control over recruitment, Campos has picked the team’s planned 3-5-2 formation, a setup Galtier hasn’t used in earnest since Saint-Etienne – his success at Lille being defined by a finely balanced 4-4-2. Campos will also instigate a squad behavioural policy which includes sanctions for wrong-doing.

The Campos-Galtier ticket, and the power it carries, may signal ‘the end of the glitter’ but both have much to prove, much like Campos’ idealised new philosophy itself. As Al-Khelaifi said: “Dreaming is one thing, reality is another.”

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Foot Mercato report this afternoon that newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Auxerre have made the decision to recruit an experienced goalkeeper ahead of the coming season, with Benoît Costil and Gautier Larsonneur on their shortlist.

The Burgundy side have gone as far as initiating contact with several players on their list, including Costil and Larsonneur, of Bordeaux and Brest respectively.

The latter has played his entire career with the Brittany club, having come up through the youth academy as a Breton himself and made a total of 141 appearances for the team. However, this season has seen him dethroned as the number one in the wake of the signing of Dutchman Marco Bizot, who coach Michel Der Zakarian has preferred.

In Costil’s case, the French international is now a free agent, having left Bordeaux unceremoniously following the club’s relegation. Bordeaux could also be liquidated by the end of the month following a failed appeal over their relegation to the third tier for financial issues, meaning the goalkeeper is unlikely to return. A public falling-out with the ultras behind his goal and the loss of his starting spot have also pushed him to the exit door.

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Mauro Camoranesi departed Marseille after only a week at the club. However, as revealed by La Provence, the Italian World Cup winner was a temporary solution, whilst Hari Vukas freed himself from his contractual obligations at Croatian side Dugopolje. 

Camoranesi has his heart set on becoming the head coach of a side, but arrived with Igor Tudor at Marseille in order to “ensure the transition” whilst Tudor’s usual assistant, Vukas, made himself available. Having freed himself from his role at Croatian second division side Dugopolje, Vukas arrival in Marseille put a swift end to Camoranesi’s time at the club. 

Due to Tudor’s very sudden arrival at the Orange Vélodrome, following the shock departure of Jorge Sampaoli, Tudor had to quickly compose his backroom staff, with many of his usual collaborators engaged elsewhere. Vukas arrives having spent time with Tudor at Hadjuk Split (on two occasions), Karabükspor, Galatasaray and Udinese. 

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As reported by Le Parisien, PSG are hoping to complete the signing of Inter Milan defender Milan Škriniar by the end of this week.

PSG director Antero Henrique, who’s taking the lead on negotiations with the player and the Italian side, flew to Milan late last week to expedite the deal with Paris looking to add Škriniar to a three-man defence (alongside Marquinhos and either Presnel Kimpembe or Sergio Ramos) being planned by new coach Christophe Galtier. However, it was reported last week that an agreement, at that stage, had yet to be found between the clubs for the defender.

The 27-year-old centre-back, however, as reported by sources contacted by Get French Football News, agreed on personal terms with PSG late last month.

With PSG’s pre-season tour of Japan set to start later this week, the club are hoping to sign the player before flying out to Osaka, alongside a deal with Sassuolo for their striker Gianluca Scamacca. For the Slovakian defender, meanwhile, a fee of €60m is likely report the paper.

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According to L’Équipe Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin are targeting Strasbourg centre-forward Ludovic Ajorque (28). The Berlin-based side join Wolfsburg and Frankfurt in the chase for the Reunion born Frenchman – who could leave for up to €15m. The player is currently under contract at Strasbourg until June 2024. 

Last season the Frenchman scored 12 goals in 36 games in Ligue 1 after arriving in Eastern France in 2018. The former Clermont and Angers man has a total of 122 appearances in France’s top tier, with 45 goals and 17 assists.  He was also part of Strasbourg’s Coupe de la Ligue win in 2018/19 where he made 10 appearances and scored three goals on the road to the final. He also has experience in Europa League qualifying matches with 6 appearances and two goals in the competition. 

The Frenchman, who is eligible to play Madagascar, last extended his contract with Strasbourg in 2020, which currently runs up to 2024. Ajorque could thus leave for up to €15m, as it is becoming increasingly likely he will play in Germany next season.

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AlphaTauri technical director Jody Egginton has revealed the team’s thinking behind a multi-stage programme of upgrades to the AT04 for 2023, with improvements to the car’s floor a central focus.

A new floor was introduced in time for the Australian Grand Prix, but Yuki Tsunoda had to revert to the original version after he damaged the new components running wide during first practice.

Despite that early setback, Tsunoda benefitted from a chaotic end to the race to finish in the top ten and claim AlphaTauri’s first constructors championship point of the season.

• Read also: Vibe at AlphaTauri still great after Tost ‘no trust’ comment, insists de Vries

And it also meant that the team was able to learn from back-to-back comparison runs of the original and new parts on the same same track.

“We were in no doubt what we wanted to do,” said Egginton. “We were looking to improve rear load at high rear ride heights in very basic sense.” Egginton explained.

“The updates we’re bringing now, amongst some other things they’re intended to improve low-speed entry stability,” he said. “If we’ve improved the rear load on the entry phase, if you’ve got more rear load, you’ve got more stability.

“Obviously low speed aero performance is a target in every team,” he said. “And that’s one of the targets we didn’t quite nail pre-season.

“We’re looking to make the car more stable on low-speed entry into corners so then the drivers can push harder at late entry, and there’s performance to come from that.

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“The changes we’ve made with floor fence camber – trying to control the strength and position of the floor vorticities and diffuser expansion and reducing tyre wake loss – it’s all part of that.

“At the end of the day, put in very simple terms, we’re looking to carry more load into the corner, so the driver can push harder.

“It gives us a balance advantage as well, if we can carry a bit more aero balance into the corner, at high stability,” he commented.

“The floor is the big device, with the most authority to achieve that. That’s why it’s the first of probably five or six steps this year on floor development.

“It works on a large part of the things that we’d identified as possible weaknesses,” he added.

“When we were developing the car over the winter, we set ourselves targets for development and other aspects. We achieved some of those targets and didn’t achieve others.

“This update goes some way to addressing that. We started working on this package before we’d run the car, and it actually just provides all the benefits we need in the areas we’ve proven we’ve got to work on.

“So it’s the first step. There’s a lot more to come, but it is delivering in the areas where we think we’ve got to make the biggest gains to get closer to our rivals, so [we are] reasonably happy with that.”

The team’s engineering staff are still smarting from recent comments made by AlphaTauri principal Franz Tost that he no longer trusted their assurances after the new car failed to leave up to expectations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

“Franz issued a statement that was probably taken a bit out of context and doesn’t show the exact picture,” Egginton told motorsport-total.com.

“Ultimately Franz’s disappointment as team principal is that the car isn’t well established enough in midfield to be where we want to be. And he’s expressed that in a way.”

“He said a few things, but we’re going to keep going. That doesn’t change anything, everyone is still united in what we have to do.

“The reality is that in the first half of the season we have to try to overtake some teams to get into midfield,” he added. “So our strategy is to keep improving the car and hopefully early in the season we develop better than some of our rivals and catch them.”

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Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer says the French outfit squad is taking full advantage of the three-week break between Melbourne and Baku to stock up on spare parts for the next round in Azerbaijan.

Last weekend in Australia, both the team’s cars suffered significant damage as a result of the run-in between Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon after the second restart, which left Alpine’s crews with a heavy post-race workload on their hands.

But back at the team’s base at Enstone, preparations are underway for the next round of racing at Baku, a street circuit that traditionally leaves little room for error.

And this year’s event will feature a double dose of high damage risk as Baku will host F1’s first Sprint format weekend of the season.

©Alpine

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