Behind the scenes at PSG: Wijnaldum and Donnarumma deals

If memory serves, football fans will remember that former PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot signed a pre-contract with Barcelona and then he changed his mind and joined Juventus. In the same vein, Wijnaldum verbally agreed to join Barcelona. 

They were scheduling the medicals and were preparing everything until PSG offered him a big contract, which is valued at €9.5 million per season. Mauricio Pochettino was key in negotiations with the player, who has now been officially announced as a Parisian. 

Pochettino was in talks with Spurs regarding a return, but PSG officials stated that he isn’t leaving. It was a done deal with Barcelona, but they didn’t act fast and now PSG have capitalised, signing the former Liverpool man as a free agent. 

They are also closing the deal for Donnarumma. A verbal agreement is ready with him. He will receive 12 million per season for five years only if add-ons are activated. 

According to Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go podcast, Keylor Navas is staying and is starting as the first choice goalkeeper. Donnarumma will fight to have his place. Navas has a contract till 2023/24. 

Barcelona were negotiating with Mino Raiola about Donnarumma a few weeks ago as well. Ter Stegen had problems with injuries so having a good backup was the intention. But due to his big salary, they waited and now PSG chief Nasser Al Khelaifi has swooped in for the former Milan star. 

The player’s big salary demands complicated the situation, which is why he left AC Milan in the first place. PSG wanted to close the deal immediately for Donnarumma, who is also the target for clubs like Juventus.