Paris Saint-Germain's latest strategy to try and damage Barça
The French side remain locked in cold war with the Catalans
Paris Saint-Germain don't forget or forgive. The French club still have a bad relationship with Barcelona following various clashes in recent seasons. Owner Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is still angry that Barça tried to sign Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Verratti and Rabiot. To that, you can add Barça beating PSG to the signing of Frenkie de Jong recently.
His defence has been to target Barça players. He moved for Ivan Rakitic, for Jordi Alba (before signing Juan Bernat) and more recently for Dembélé and Coutinho. The Neymar move serves as an example.
The signing of De Jong was perhaps Josep Maria Bartomeu's first big win against the French side off the pitch. The president's 'goal' turned the tables in the cold war after the Neymar deal. But the conflict does not end there.
In fact, PSG already had a new formula before Barça signed the Dutch midfielder. That is to go for all the same players that Barça have been following: De Jong, De Ligt, Jovic...
Naturally, the three cases mentioned relate to big, emerging players, so it's normal that all Europe's big clubs are interested in them. But, keeping in mind the cover Thomas Tuchel has in defence and attack, to be in for De Ligt and Jovic has only one motive: to drive up the cost of a transfer.
As we wait to see what happens this summer, when Al-Khelaïfi will once again have to fend off rumours from Madrid about Mbappe and Neymar, the cold war will continue. We haven't seen the last episode yet.
