Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, two clubs built on vast financial backing with the aim of conquering the Champions League, are navigating one of their toughest spells since money began shaping European football. PSG is dealing with a Financial Fair Play squeeze as its wage bill climbs rapidly, prompting a 30 percent reduction next season to meet regulations and avoid penalties. Meanwhile, Manchester City faces an official inquiry by the British authorities over alleged financial misconduct spanning 2009 to 2018, including questions about the true source of funding and the disclosure of salaries for players and coach Roberto Mancini to authorities. There is added scrutiny regarding Financial Fair Play and a broader look into the conduct of the Premier League club since 2018.
These pressures are testing the foundations of both clubs and placing under the spotlight some of their most influential figures, including Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi. Messi, whose contract runs out this summer, has sparked intense debate in Paris about whether to renew. Former PSG midfielder Jerome Rothen, on Radio Monte-Carlo, voiced concerns about the financial logic of retaining Messi alongside stars like Mbappe and Neymar. He noted that PSG has faced FFP restrictions because salaries climbed sharply, and argued that selling Messi could yield considerable returns, making a renewal seem imprudent in his view.
PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has not yet announced a stance on the club’s current block or Messi’s future. Compounding the uncertainty, PSG has endured a difficult run in recent seasons, including a Cup exit at the hands of Olympique de Marseille and a lean spell in the league with multiple results that did not reflect the hopes tied to their financial investments. Ahead lies a first-leg tie against Bayern Munich in the knockout phase, with fitness concerns affecting key players as Mbappé deals with muscle fatigue and Messi experiences hamstring issues that limit his participation.
Shouting in the PSG locker room
The atmosphere in the dressing room has grown tense, and manager Christophe Galtier appears to face an uncertain future. Tensions boiled over after a recent defeat to Monaco, with reports of clashes between Neymar, Marquinhos, and the leadership team. Neymar challenged Hugo Ekitike over decisions, while Marquinhos and Gianluigi Donnarumma reportedly faced teammates in heated exchanges. There is no indication that Messi or Mbappé were involved in these incidents in a harmful way, but the strain is evident.
Beyond the on-field turmoil, UEFA issued a 65 million euro sanction to PSG last August, with 10 million deposited with the federation led by Alexander Ceferin. The sanction was tied to a breach of financial rules, and PSG has since had to reduce its wage base by 30 percent to align with rules to take effect next season. The club remains focused on restoring performance while navigating the consequences of years of high-profile transfers and salaries and the unsettled future of Messi.
Manchester City faces a graver challenge, as they will return to Champions League play on February 22 against Leipzig in Germany. An independent commission is examining the club for potential breaches of competition financial rules, with the Premier League alleging that the club did not present accounts in good faith and with a fair perspective, potentially dating from the 2009-2010 season through the 2017-2018 period. The Prime Minister has noted concerns about transparency in the accounts and the integrity of the reporting process.
City under government review
The investigation spans several areas. It examines sponsorship dealings, personnel costs for coaches such as Mancini who led the team from 2009 to 2013, and changes to player salaries between 2010 and 2016. It also addresses potential breaches of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play from 2013 to 2018. In 2020, UEFA briefly expelled City from competition for economic rule breaches, though that decision was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The inquiry also questions compliance with profitability and sustainability requirements from 2015 to 2018 and whether the club cooperated with Premier League investigations since 2018.
There are more than a hundred alleged violations cited by the Premier League that could lead to severe sanctions for Manchester City. Potential outcomes include point deductions, disqualification from leagues or cups, loss of titles earned during the period of alleged misconduct, and even a change in competition status. Such penalties would have far-reaching consequences for the club and for the City Football Group, which oversees a network of clubs around the world.
Whatever the outcome, supporters are urged to stay engaged. One spokesperson urged calm, expressing commitment to remain in place regardless of the uncertainty. The message highlights a desire to weather the process and to see a just resolution, with hopes of moving forward whether through continued competition at the highest level or adjustments dictated by the investigation. The broader context is a landscape where world football is intertwined with political and financial forces, and where clubs with deep pockets must justify every expense as they pursue glory on the European stage.
While World Cup excitement in Qatar, the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, and the ongoing discourse around the sport’s branding and governance continue to make headlines, the big clubs find themselves navigating a period of intense scrutiny and financial pressure in Europe. The story unfolding for PSG and Manchester City reflects a broader tension between ambition, regulation, and accountability in modern football.