In an exciting flurry of action, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced the signing of two high-profile players, defender Milan Skriniar and forward Marco Asensio, to their roster. Both players will join the French champions on free transfers, marking a significant shift for the club this transfer window.
Skriniar, the Slovakian captain, committed to a five-year contract with PSG, with his earlier obligations to Inter Milan coming to an end in June. This marks the end of his illustrious tenure with Inter, where Skriniar took the field almost 250 times across Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Italian Super Cup. However, his final season with the Italian giants was marred by injuries, with over 20 games missed in all competitions, including the Champions League final against Manchester City.
"There's always pressure when joining a club like Paris Saint Germain, but I feel ready to be part of this incredible institution," said Skriniar. Despite his challenging last few months at Inter, the 28-year-old expressed optimism about the move, stating, "I'm in perfect shape now. I like the challenge and the pressure, it's part of being a defender."
Concurrent with Skriniar's move, PSG also signed former Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio on a three-year deal until 2026. Asensio, who had a breakout season under Zinedine Zidane in 2016-17 and scored in the Champions League final that year, saw his prominence at the La Liga club gradually diminish in recent years.
The duo's signing came on the heels of PSG's appointment of Luis Enrique as their new manager, replacing Christophe Galtier. Skriniar, in particular, had been a long-standing target of Galtier's.
While these new signings indicate a decisive move from PSG to strengthen their squad, speculations suggest that more reinforcements might be on the way, with Lucas Hernandez from Bayern Munich being a potential target.
Through these strategic changes in player and management personnel, PSG looks determined to strive for the elusive Champions League trophy, an achievement that has managed to dodge their Qatari owners since their acquisition of the club in 2011. As a part of this ambition, these signings mark a significant step in solidifying PSG's defensive line that conceded 40 goals last season.
"PSG is one of the best clubs globally, with world-class players and fantastic fans," expressed Skriniar. As such, the anticipation is palpable as fans await the promising new era for PSG under Luis Enrique's leadership, empowered by the addition of Asensio and Skriniar.
